“Oh!” cried Drawlight. “If the books are bought by someone else you may complain to the Ministers! You may complain to the Prince of Wales! It is not in the interests of the Nation that books of magic should be in any one’s possession but your own, Mr Norrell.”

“Except Strange,” said Lascelles. “I do not think the Prince of Wales or the Ministers would have any objections to Strange’s owning the books.”

“That is true,” agreed Drawlight. “I had forgot Strange.”

Mr Norrell looked more alarmed than ever. “But Mr Strange will understand that it is proper for the books to be mine,” he said. “They should be collected together in one library. They ought not to be separated.” He looked about hopefully for someone to agree with him. “Naturally,” he continued, “I shall have no objection to Mr Strange reading them. Everyone knows how many of my books – my own precious books – I have lent to Mr Strange. That is … I mean, it would depend upon the subject.”

Drawlight, Lascelles and Childermass said nothing. They did indeed know how many books Mr Norrell had lent Mr Strange. They also knew how many he had withheld.

“Strange is a gentleman,” said Lascelles. “He will behave as a gentleman and expect you to do the same. If the books are offered privately to you and you alone, then I think you may buy them, but if they are auctioned, he will feel entitled to bid against you.”

Mr Norrell paused, looked at Lascelles and licked his lips nervously. “And how do you suppose the books will be sold? By auction or by private transaction?”

“Auction,” said Lascelles, Drawlight and Childermass together.

Mr Norrell covered his face with his hands.

“Of course,” said Lascelles, slowly as if the idea were just occurring to him at that moment, “if Strange were abroad, he would not be able to bid.” He took a sip of his coffee. “Would he?”

Mr Norrell looked up with new hope in his face.

Suddenly it became highly desirable that Mr Strange should go to Portugal for a year or so.5

29
At the house of José Estoril

January–March 1811

“I have been thinking, sir, that my leaving for the Peninsula will be the cause of many changes in your dealings with the War Office,” said Strange. “I am afraid that when I am gone you will not find it so convenient to have people knocking at the door at all hours of the day and night, asking for this or that piece of magic to be performed forthwith. There will be no one but you to attend to them. When will you sleep? I think we must persuade them to some other way of doing things. If I can be of any assistance in arranging matters, I should be glad to do so. Perhaps we should invite Lord Liverpool to dine one evening this week?”