The Under-Secretary jumps. "Oh! You startled me - I don't have a Vake tooth, not yet. Would you like to help me acquire one?"

"I would!"

"Well, a report is always crossing my desk that some prisoner in New Newgate had their face carved off. That happens every once in a while; it's the Snuffer's work. But one day, I found a report that this had happened to a certain Dashing Toff who had recently paid for one of the teeth of the Vake to be retrieved from a Fourth City ruin. After that, the reports began to mention that the Snuffer's victims had been stabbed repeatedly in the chest with the fang of some kind of beast." He shrugs. "It's not proof positive, but it hints rather strongly, doesn't it?"

"Suppose it does."

"If you can procure that tooth for me, I'll give you a thousand jade. It wouldn't be easy, but you seem like the kind of man who can get things done."

"A thousand jade sounds nice. A Vake-tooth of my very own might sound nicer. If I come by a spare, though, I'll happily sell it to you."

The Under-Secretary sighs. "Well, I can't go any higher, but I won't stop you if you prefer to keep it."

Then he returns to his paperwork.

And he gets the fuck out of the Palace.

The Provocateuse awaits him.

"The prodigal returns. How went your quests?"

"Apparently there's a Vake-tooth going around that's probably in the hands of someone who likes cutting people's faces off. Also His Lordship paid me tenpence to deal with the cider he spilled all over his floor."

"A profitable evening!"

She bumps him with her hip, and there's a slight tug at the pocket where he has His Lordship's papers.

He grabs her wrist, mostly on reflex.

(There's—something—not quite a memory—a familiarity, to grabbing someone like this—)

Her other hand twitches in the direction of her own pocket, but she stills it and puts it back by her side.

"My apologies. May I have those."

There's a moment where he's holding on to her and he looks... confused, and perhaps also something other than confused...

But then he lets go, and hands her the papers.

"Thank you."

She flicks through the papers, sighing with pleasure. "What I wouldn't give for this man's resources! If only he'd listen to me when I suggest a collaboration. Well, it's his loss."

He laughs.

She folds up the research and tucks it into her pocket. "I'll finish reading that later. So, the Vake tooth is in the hands of a Snuffer. Do you know which one? Presumably not the Bishop of St. Fiacre's, though I'd be very amused if it were."

"I didn't even know there was more than one!"

"Many people don't. But there's rather a lot of them, actually. They all call each other 'cousin,' and they wear the faces of those they've killed. I've done some research on the subject - they're terribly unpleasant creatures, but they don't age, and that makes them a topic of some interest to me. Do you know where this particular Snuffer is, at least?"

"He mentioned New Newgate and I think he meant all the tooth stabbings were there."

"Oh, you do keep getting into interesting situations. I could get you into New Newgate... and I can even get you out again, if you're willing to do me another favor."

"What is it this time?"

"A Wretched Recidivist currently enjoying New Newgate's hospitality decided that he feared me less than he feared the law. He gave the Constables information about my activities and connections that I prefer they not possess, in exchange for a reduced sentence. I want you to make him aware of his mistake. You don't need to kill him permanently, but I want you to hurt him very badly."

"Huh," he says. "All right. Should I tell him why, too?"

"I think he'll get the idea, but if the spirit takes you, feel free. When you've done that and found your Vake tooth, ask the Mirthless Gaoler if she knows the Seventh Letter, and she'll arrange for the relevant authorities to discover you were wrongly imprisoned."