Anthony spirits Robin, Ramy, Letty, and Victoire from the Babel party into Univ’s chapel, unlocking a hidden passage behind Sir William Jones’s frieze with the code “Gorasahib.” In the dark tunnels he confirms knowledge of China war plans and promises to recover Robin’s incriminating letters. He delivers them to the Old Library, a concealed Hermes base protected by glamours and traps.

Inside, Anthony introduces a wider Hermes circle and their secret research—non‑English match‑pairs, dictionaries, and a global map of endangered languages. Over dinner they speak frankly about attrition and past losses. The haven’s camaraderie makes Robin weep with relief.

Griffin arrives, and they map a campaign to stop a China invasion: target wavering MPs, exploit anti‑opium sentiment, and shape public opinion, even experimenting with a polemikós match‑pair. They also plan direct action in Glasgow against newly ordered iron steamboats. Griffin will go north at once; he argues for bolder sabotage while Anthony keeps focus on lobbying.

Griffin proposes “Operation Divine Fury”—occupying Babel to cripple Britain’s silver infrastructure—but Anthony refuses due to likely civilian deaths. The late‑night session ends with wild ideas, then exhaustion; makeshift beds are arranged among the stacks.

Outside in the moonlit yard, Griffin gives Robin a pistol lesson and defends violence as necessary for decolonization. He recounts killing Evie Brooke as a sting gone wrong, while pressing Robin to own Lovell’s death as strategically just. Shaken yet compelled, Robin fires once, feeling the dangerous thrill of power.