The Bastard by John Jakes

Author:John Jakes
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 9781453255902
Publisher: MysteriousPress.com / Open Road
Published: 2012-08-07T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER II

Mistress Anne

i

THE PRINTING FIRM OF Edes and Gill in Dassett Alley was not particularly prosperous-looking, equipped as it was with but one small flat-bed press in its cramped main-floor room. A few type cases sat nearby. Behind a partition was a tiny, cluttered office from which the stout Mr. Ben Edes oversaw the publishing operation.

As he’d promised to do, Philip called on Mr. Edes at ten the morning following his admittance to the private room behind the Salutation. They soon concluded an agreement for Philip to be a general boy-of-all-work around the shop.

From time to time Edes’ son Peter apparently helped out as well. But the boy was small, and Edes wanted an assistant of size and strength. And, he said, “One who won’t cower and run off when Governor Hutchinson or some other damned Crown toady makes one of his frequent public denunciations of our sheet.”

Before giving his final assent to the arrangement, Edes watched Philip work the press for nearly twenty minutes. At the conclusion of the test, he said, “You’ve practiced with excellent masters. Come, let’s go back to the office and talk wages. Do you have a place to stay?”

Elated, Philip said as he followed Edes, “No, sir. But I’ll find one immediately.”

“We’ve an unused room down cellar where we can move in a pallet if you wish—no charge.”

“That would be perfect.”

“You’ll have to catch your meals as you can, in the taverns in the neighborhood.”

“No problem there, sir.”

“Do you own a trunk? Any possessions you want to store? We can lock ’em in back. Or at my house.”

“These—”Philip showed him the casket and wrapped sword “—are all I have.”

Settled in the office again, Edes studied him. “Brought ’em along, did you? That’s confidence. You came from England with nothing else?”

“Nothing.”

“Then tell me what you want in this country. More specifically than you did last evening.”

Philip thought a moment. “Frankly, sir, all I can think of at the moment is the chance to start working. Oh, and some new clothes. I’d hope to buy a proper suit from what I save. Without spending all of it, I mean.”

“Got any ambitions beyond the job itself?”

“Yes, sir. I think I’d like to put myself in my own printing business eventually.”

Edes grinned. “Competing with me already!”

“Well—” Philip nodded. “In a way, I suppose. A man needs to look ahead.”

“Understandable, Mr. Kent, perfectly understandable. Let us hope the town of Boston’s not burned to the ground in civil disorders or leveled by the King’s artillery before you’ve the capital to take away my trade.” He continued more soberly, “As you may have sensed last night, Sam Adams is bent on armed collision with the British government. He’s failed in every business venture he’s ever attempted. But the man’s a positive genius at politics—wheedling here, whispering there, stirring mobs in secret to work his will. His hatred of the Crown isn’t all pure idealism, though. Sam’s father was ruined in the Land Bank failure a number of years ago. So,

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