The Shakespeare Stealer

After realizing that Julian is a girl, Nick storms out of the fencing practice, saying, “I’ve been fencing with a girl for most of a year, and never knew it!” (161). It is discovered that Julian’s given name is Julia. After her injury is bandaged by Mr. Phillips’s wife, Julia refuses to go home and miss the evening performance, stating, “I have never yet missed a performance, and I do not intend to miss this one” (162).

As the time for the evening performance approaches, Nick has still not returned, so Mr. Heminges sends Widge and Sander out to search for Nick in the ale houses. When they find Nick, Sander accidentally mentions the morning’s fencing incident, and another patron of the ale house overhears. The patron remarks, “Don’t tell me you’ve taken to fighting women, Nick” (165). This remark precipitates a fight between Nick and the other patron, and Nick is stabbed in the throat.

Chapter 22 opens with Widge, assuming that Nick is dead, beating the ale house patron with a stool. Widge then attempts to bandage Nick’s wound, stopping the flow of blood until Nick is taken to a hospital by the authorities.