Shackleton looked surprized to hear any one pronounce with such confidence upon magical matters.

Mr Murray hastily introduced Strange’s three pupils. “How much time do you think we have?” he asked Tom.

“A day? Two at the most? Certainly not enough time to find Mr Strange and bring him back. I think, Mr Murray, that you must put this into our hands and we must try a spell or two to counteract Norrell’s magic.”

“Are there such spells?” asked Mr Murray, eyeing the novice-magicians doubtfully.

“Oh, hundreds!” said Henry Purfois.

“Do you know any of them?” asked Mr Murray.

“We know of them,” said William Hadley-Bright. “We could probably put a fairly decent one together. What an excellent thing it would be if Mr Strange came back from the Continent and we had saved his book! That would rather make him open his eyes, I think!”

“What about Pale’s Invisible What-D’ye-Call-It and Thingumajig?” asked Henry Purfois.

“I know what you mean,” said William Hadley-Bright.

“A really remarkable procedure of Dr Pale’s,” Henry Purfois informed Mr Murray. “It turns a spell around and inflicts it upon its maker. Mr Norrell’s own books would go blank or disappear! Which is, after all, no more than he deserves.”

“I am not sure Mr Strange would be so delighted if he came back and found we had destroyed England’s foremost magical library,” said Tom. “Besides in order to perform Pale’s Invisible Reflection and Protection we would have to construct a Quiliphon.”

“A what?” said Mr Murray.

“A Quiliphon,” said William Hadley-Bright. “Dr Pale’s works are full of such machines for doing magic. I believe that in appearance it is something between a trumpet and a toasting fork …”

“… and there are four metal globes on top that go round and round,” added Henry Purfois.

“I see,” said Mr Murray.

“Building a Quiliphon would take too long,” said Tom, firmly. “I suggest we turn our attention to De Chepe’s Prophylaxis.4 That is very quick to implement and, correctly done, should hold off Norrell’s magic for a while – long enough to get a message to Mr Strange.”

Just then the door opened and an untidy-looking fellow in a leather apron entered the shop. He was somewhat discomfited to find the eyes of all the room upon him. He made a little bobbing bow, handed a piece of paper to Shackleton and quickly made his escape.

“What is it, Shackleton?” asked Mr Murray.

“A message from Thames-street. They have looked inside the books. They are all blank – not a word left upon any of the pages. I am sorry, Mr Murray, but The History and Practice of English Magic is gone.”

William Hadley-Bright stuck his hands in his pockets and gave a low whistle.