You ask Corvina what she is not saying and she takes you to the library and shows you the empty shelves.

There are crates by the door with a collector's mark on them and a cheque on the desk made out to the school.

CorvinaThe Ministry's floor is thirty pupils and the money runs out in April. I sold the books to buy the spring.

Mione comes in behind you and reads the cheque over your shoulder and says nothing for a long moment.

CorvinaWrite it down. I would rather be caught than thanked.