What Rutledge cared about was the Sudbury School. His form of honor, if you will. Rutledge was gentleman born, had attended Eton with Grenville. But he'd stuck his claws into this school for bankers' sons, and by God he intended it to be a success. Its reputation was his reputation.

Rutledge went on, "I know that you yourself were the victim of a prank, Captain, though you chose not to report it. Sutcliff, my prefect, had to tell me. What were you thinking, man?"

Bartholomew a few nights ago had thrown back my bedding to reveal a grass snake, half-suffocated on the featherbed. I had lifted it between my fingers and laid it gently in the branches of the tree outside my window.

I said, "I was thinking it was harmless and did not need to be brought to your attention."

"Harmless?" Rutledge almost shouted. "And why, pray, did you believe it harmless?"

I half smiled. "I assumed a few boys were simply testing out the new man. To see whether I fussed or laughed."

Rutledge's expression told me that levity had been the incorrect response. "You should have reported it to me at once, and the boys found and punished. You encourage their behavior."

I held my temper with effort. "I doubt it connects to the more serious pranks."

"How can you know that?"

"Poison in port and fires in servants rooms are considerably more dangerous than one bewildered grass snake."

Rutledge's annoyed expression told me he did not agree. "So the question remains, Captain… what do you intend to do about it?"

His belligerence was ruining a fine spring day. I had hoped to escape for a walk after my duties, but Rutledge had ordered me to stay. Then he'd laid aside his papers, rested his fists on his desk, and told me all about the pranks.

"I will question the boys," I told him. "They likely know who is involved but are reluctant to speak. Even if they do not know, they might be able to point to something. I will speak to the prefects of both houses, as well. They are much closer to the boys than you or even the tutors can be."