Harriet returns to Oxford in a March rainstorm. When she meets with the Dean, Warden, Treasurer, Bursar, and Miss Lydgate, she learns about a number of new poison-pen letters as well as some acts of vandalism. A letter addressed to second-year student Miss Flaxman warns, “IF YOU DON’T LEAVE YOUNG FARRINGDON ALONE […] IT WILL BE THE WORSE FOR YOU” (99). Farringdon is a male student at one of the other colleges who is engaged to Flaxman after having been engaged to a Miss Cattermole.

Miss Barton, one of the faculty, finds a book she wrote burning in the Junior Common Room grate. In addition, the only remaining copy of a large manuscript by Miss Lydgate has been defaced. Further, a large pile of academic gowns has been doused with gasoline and set ablaze in the quad. Because these events have been occurring since October, the faculty is inclined to believe that a freshman student might be responsible. At this point in the meeting, Harriet uncomfortably reveals the letter she received the previous June. Her opinion is that the culprit is someone who attended the Gaudy Night weekend.

Even though this eliminates the younger students, it still leaves a large group of suspects consisting of faculty, staff, and older students.