The Palace Thief

The final story in Canin’s collection tells of history teacher Mr. Hundert’s dealings with a privileged troublesome pupil, Sedgewick Bell, over the course of four decades. The story opens in the 1980s with Hundert’s reflections that his career at St. Benedict’s private boarding-school for boys has ended in disgrace and disappointment, and his own self-regard has taken a nose-dive, following the acceptance of an invitation from Sedgewick Bell.

The narrative then casts back to November 1945, when Sedgewick, the son of powerful, populist Senator Sedgewick Hyram Bell, first turns up in Hundert’s classroom. Despite being a new boy, Sedgewick is defiant and rebellious, teasing the other boys in Hundert’s class for wearing togas. He is also a poor student, and when Hundert summons him to his office, Sedgewick remarks that Hundert makes the boys prance around in togas because he is unmarried. Hundert says he will make an appointment with Sedgewick’s father.

At the appointment, the senator flatters and intimidates Hundert into accepting the gift of one of Confederate general Robert E. Lee’s coachmen’s sidearms. When Hundert brings up the subject of Sedgewick’s performance, the senator questions the point of teaching the boys Roman history, then dismisses Hundert’s explanation.