 Grimaldi and Dubois appeared together again later that spring at Sadler 's Wells in Dibdin 's Harlequin Alchemist , which set up a mock duel between the two Clowns , with the audience deciding who could pull the most hideous face . Grimaldi consistently won . In the next piece , Harlequin Benedick ; or , The Ghost of Mother Shipton . Dubois was relegated to the role of Pierrot , while Grimaldi played Clown . Grimaldi 's mother was in the cast , appearing as the Butcher 's Wife . He then appeared in another Dibdin play , The Great Devil . During the run , he accidentally injured himself on stage by shooting himself in the foot and was confined to bed for five weeks . His mother became so concerned at her son 's fragile and still grief @-@ stricken state that she employed a dancer at Drury Lane , Mary Bristow , to care for him full @-@ time during those weeks . They formed a close friendship , which resulted in a loving relationship , and they married on 24 December 1801 . 
