On February 2, 1807, Mr. Norrell's enigmatic servant Childermass carries three spells transcribed by his master into London on a delicate errand: two spells to make an obstinate man leave the city, and one to discover what his enemy is doing at that moment. The errand reveals the practical, secretive world of Norrell's magic — powerful but always hoarded, always hidden, never to be shared with the public.