“Oh, yes indeed!” said Mr Norrell in high good humour with this proof of Strange’s considerateness. “You must be there. You explain everything so well! You have only to say a thing and Lord Liverpool understands immediately!”

“Then shall I write to his lordship?”

“Yes, do! Do!”

It was the first week of January. The date of Strange’s departure was not yet fixed, but was likely to be soon. Strange sat down and wrote the invitation. Lord Liverpool replied very promptly and the next day but one saw him at Hanover-square.

It was the habit of Mr Norrell and Jonathan Strange to spend the hour before dinner in Mr Norrell’s library and it was in this room that they received his lordship. Childermass was also present, ready to act as clerk, counsellor, messenger or servant just as circumstances should require.

Lord Liverpool had never seen Mr Norrell’s library and before he sat down he took a little turn about the room. “I had been told, sir,” he said, “that your library was one of the Wonders of the Modern World, but I never imagined any thing half so extensive.”

Mr Norrell was very well pleased. Lord Liverpool was exactly the sort of guest he liked – one who admired the books but shewed no inclination to take them down from the shelves and read them.

Then Strange said, addressing Mr Norrell, “We have not spoken yet, sir, about the books I should take to the Peninsula. I have made a list of forty titles, but if you think it can be improved upon I should be glad of your advice.” He pulled a folded sheet from a jumble of papers on a table and handed it to Mr Norrell.