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Finally. Augustus Ma
Smugly, Pliny Mead chose the most comfortable place to sit, in the center of the Ma
“I thank you for agreeing to meet at an evening hour, Mr. Mead, away from the College,” Ma
“Well, sorry I’m late. Your secretary’s message said this is about Professor Lowell. Our Dante class?”
Ma
“Guess I did,” said Mead. “For a few hours at that. He wanted to know just about everything I could tell him on Dante. He said he was asking on your account.”
“He was indeed. Yet since then it doesn’t seem he wishes to speak to me. I wonder why.”
Mead crinkled his nose. “Now, how should I know your business, sir?”
“You shouldn’t, my son, of course. But I thought perhaps you could help me nonetheless. I thought that we could marry our information and understand what he might have come upon that would prompt such a shift in his behavior.”
Mead stared blandly, disenchanted by the fact that the meeting held little benefit or enjoyment for him. A box of pipes sat on the mantel. He cheered at the idea of smoking at the fireside of a Harvard fellow. “Those look A1, Dr. Ma
Ma
Mead closed his eyes and puffed out luxuriously.
Augustus Ma
Mead bolted upright, a grammar school child ready to be ferruled. “Sir, Dr. Ma
He interrupted. “I know, my dear boy. I know what happens. Professor Lowell’s class last term—that is to blame. Your brothers have always been first scholars in their commencement classes. Haven’t they?”
Bristling with humiliation and anger, the student looked away.
“Perhaps we can see to it that some adjustments are made to your class number to bring your standing more in line with your family honor.”
Mead’s emerald green eyes came to life. “Truly, sir?”
“Perhaps I shall have a smoke now.” Ma
Pliny Mead’s mind raced to find what it was Ma
Why, darn them all! Je
Mead sprang to his feet. “Dr. Ma
Ma
Mead listened, shook his head. “Mrs. Ma
Ma
After a moment, he returned to his guest. “My imagination,” he said, locking eyes squarely with Mead. “I only want you to be assured that our privacy is complete. In my heart, I know that you will have something important to share tonight, Mr. Mead.”
“I might indeed, Dr. Ma
Ma
“Sherry for me, if you please.”
Ma
Augustus Ma
He heard a loud thump, signifying, he knew without looking, that the boy had broken a precious object. Ma
Ma
Ma
Dan Teal plucked the gun away from Ma
XVII
Dr. Holmes scrambled up the long staircase to the Authors’ Room. “Hasn’t Officer Rey come back?” he asked, panting.
Lowell’s knitted eyebrows expressed his frustration.
“Well, perhaps Blight…” Holmes began. “Perhaps he does know something, and Rey will come with good tidings. What of your return visit to the University Hall records room?”
“I’m afraid we might not have one,” Fields said, sighing into his beard.
“Why not?” Holmes asked.
Fields was silent.
“Mr. Teal has not shown himself this evening,” Longfellow explained. “Perhaps he has taken ill,” he added quickly.
“Not likely,” Fields said, crestfallen. “The books show that young Teal hasn’t missed a shift in four months. I’ve called some trouble down on the poor boy’s head, Holmes. And after he volunteered his loyalty again and again.”
“What folly…” Holmes began.
“Is it? I oughtn’t have involved him! Ma