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           Thebrieflyscrawledmessagewasthis,anditsmysterylentpurposetotheshakenpair,whoforthwithwalkedsteadilyouttotheWardcarandgaveorderstobedrivenfirsttoaquietdiningplaceandthentotheJohnHayLibraryonthehill.

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           Atthelibraryitwaseasytofindgoodmanualsofpaleography,andoverthesethetwomenpuzzledtillthelightsofeveningshoneoutfromthegreatchandelier.Intheendtheyfoundwhatwasneeded.Theletterswereindeednofantasticinvention,butthenormalscriptofaverydarkperiod.TheywerethepointedSaxonminusculesoftheeighthorninthcenturyA.D.,andbroughtwiththemmemoriesofanuncouthtimewhenunderafreshChristianveneerancientfaithsandancientritesstirredstealthily,andthepalemoonofBritainlookedsometimesonstrangedeedsintheRomanruinsofCaerleonandHexham,andbythetowersalongHadrian’scrumblingwall.ThewordswereinsuchLatinasabarbarousagemightremember—’Corvinusnecandusest.Cadaveraq(ua)fortidissolvendum,necaliq(ui)dretinendum.Taceutpotes.’—whichmayroughlybetranslated,"Curwenmustbekilled.Thebodymustbedissolvedinaquafortis,normustanythingberetained.Keepsilenceasbestyouareable."

           WillettandMr.Wardweremuteandbaffled.Theyhadmettheunknown,andfoundthattheylackedemotionstorespondtoitastheyvaguelybelievedtheyought.