Nathaniel tries to summon Bartimaeus three times, all of which fail. He hastily conceals his summoning circle and, while on his way to consult more books at the library, runs into his master. Like his wife, Arthur notes that Nathaniel smells like incense and candles, but unlike Martha, he immediately grows suspicious. He turns over Nathaniel’s room, finding all of his used summoning supplies and the circle he made on the floorboards—but not his scrying glass. Infuriated, Arthur promises retribution and a ruined career for what he perceives as Nathaniel’s complete disobedience. Later, Martha brings him food. Siding with her husband, she entreats Nathaniel to beg for forgiveness. She mentions, however, that Arthur has left the house to deal with a rogue djinni who impersonated Simon’s messenger imp. When she leaves, Nathaniel orders the imp in his scrying glass to find Bartimaeus, and the imp confirms that Bartimaeus is in the Tower of London.

The other utukku, Xerxes, stops Baztuk from killing Bartimaeus as he hears a tapping sound and worries that it is the magicians. They fight, and Bartimaeus goads them. As the utukku are about to attack him again, two ravens appear. One of them eats Xerxes, and Baztuk hurriedly sounds the alarm before dying.