The work opens in London in 1908, narrated in close third-person from the point of view of Reggie Gatling, who is being tortured. Despite being in a public park, St. James’s, Reggie’s plight is disguised, as his tormentors have used magic to hide themselves and their captive from view. Reggie’s captors mock him for trying to wield the powerful object they are looking for. Reggie eventually shows his captors that a spell on his tongue, called a secret-bind, is preventing him from answering questions. To subvert the spell, one of the men asks Reggie where he last saw an object of significance, then conjures a map, which Reggie uses to indicate his office. George then gives orders to kill Reggie, whose last sight is of George casually walking away.

The chapter begins from Robin Blyth’s point of view. Robin is irritated and confused, as he has a new job in the Office of Special Domestic Affairs and Complaints and does not understand his responsibilities. A thin, blond man abruptly enters his office. Though he seems friendly at first, he soon looks offended and demands to know where Reggie is. When Robin asks the newcomer’s name, the man says, “I’m the Queen of Denmark,” to which Robin replies, “and I’m Leonardo da Vinci” (7).