“No, no. That is not it. I cannot explain it. They are waiting for me. They know me! I cannot go in there!” Drawlight had no words for what had happened to him. He held out his arms for a moment as if he thought he could shew Lascelles the rivers that had curled about his feet, the trees that had pierced him, the stones that had been his heart and lungs and guts.

Lascelles raised his riding-whip. “I have no idea what you are talking about.” He urged his horse at Drawlight and flourished the whip. Poor Drawlight had never possessed the least physical courage and he was driven, whimpering, into the trees. A briar caught the edge of his sleeve and he screamed.

“Oh, do be quiet!” said Lascelles. “Any one would think there is murder going on.”

They walked on until they came to a small clearing. Lascelles got down from his horse and tethered him to a tree. He removed the two pistols from the saddle-holsters and stuck them in the pockets of his great coat. Then he turned to Drawlight. “So you actually saw Strange? Good. Excellent, in fact. I was sure you were too cowardly to face him.”

“I thought he would change me into something horrible.”

Lascelles surveyed Drawlight’s stained clothing and haunted face with some distaste. “Are you sure he did not do it?”

“What?” said Drawlight.

“Why did you not simply kill him? There, in the Darkness? You were alone, I presume? No one would have known.”

“Oh, yes. That is very likely, is it not? He is tall and clever and quick and cruel. I am none of those things.”

“I would have done it,” said Lascelles.

“Would you? Well then, you are very welcome to go to Venice and try.”

“Where is he now?”

“In the Darkness – in Venice – but he is coming to England.”

“He said so?”

“Yes, I told you – I have messages: one for Childermass, one for Norrell and one for all the magicians in England.”

“And what are they?”

“I am to tell Childermass that Lady Pole was not raised from the dead in the way Norrell said – he had a fairy to help him and the fairy has done things – wrong things – and I am to give Childermass a little box. That is the first message. And I am to tell Norrell that Strange is coming back. That is the third message.”

Lascelles considered. “This little box, what does it contain?”

“I do not know.”

“Why? Is it sealed shut in some way? By magic?”

Drawlight shut his eyes and shook his head. “I do not know that either.”