Night falls...
A newcomer has arrived at the Mansion (hardly an unusual occurrence, really), but his presence is rather overshadowed, quite literally, by the simultanaeous arrival of nighttime. Now, night at the Mansion generally falls with unvarying regularity every twelve hours or so, and the star-studded dark sky should be nothing unusual... Though perhaps it is a bit unusual for it to come so rapidly, and when it had been half past eleven in the morning just moments ago.
And so many might not even notice the arrival of the stranger, a man in his thirties or thereabouts, with a long nose and rather reddish hair (aside from these small flaws, he could be, charitably, said to be rather handsome), and an expression both thoughtful and rather sheepish.
'Ah, do please excuse that,' he says to whoever will listen. 'Most irksome, I know, but it's really quite...harmless, aside from the problem with clocks. Really, I am dreadfully sorry. I've been unsuccessful in getting rid of it as yet, I'm afraid.' He blinks rather vaguely, passing a hand through his hair, so that it stands up on end, giving him quite a wild, unkempt appearance.
'My name is Jonathan Strange,' he adds abruptly. 'I don't believe I mentioned that yet. --And I'm a magician.'
...which might explain the darkness which has now swallowed up the Mansion and its grounds, and also the fact that all the clocks in the place have turned to midnight, from which point they seem determined not to budge.
[ Jonathan Strange is from Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke. ]
And so many might not even notice the arrival of the stranger, a man in his thirties or thereabouts, with a long nose and rather reddish hair (aside from these small flaws, he could be, charitably, said to be rather handsome), and an expression both thoughtful and rather sheepish.
'Ah, do please excuse that,' he says to whoever will listen. 'Most irksome, I know, but it's really quite...harmless, aside from the problem with clocks. Really, I am dreadfully sorry. I've been unsuccessful in getting rid of it as yet, I'm afraid.' He blinks rather vaguely, passing a hand through his hair, so that it stands up on end, giving him quite a wild, unkempt appearance.
'My name is Jonathan Strange,' he adds abruptly. 'I don't believe I mentioned that yet. --And I'm a magician.'
...which might explain the darkness which has now swallowed up the Mansion and its grounds, and also the fact that all the clocks in the place have turned to midnight, from which point they seem determined not to budge.
[ Jonathan Strange is from Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke. ]