Dear Mr. Stroud

This was really a funny part when Nathanael met the agent Harkelin in Prague. Here´s my question. What was Harkelin holding in his hand? He said he had taken it from a gibbet. Was it a hand or an arm or something else?

Thank you for answering some of my questions.

Hi Affa,

Well, that's a good question and I'm not going to give you a proper answer! The traditional 'hand of glory' allegedly used by burglars was the hand of a criminal cut down from a gallows or gibbet, which then had a candle stuffed between the fingers. It was supposed to make everyone in a house fall asleep, so the burglar could carry out his work safely.

As for the object the agent holds in the cemetary... well, it's the same sort of thing, but I don't think it's a hand this time! Certainly Nat doesn't like the look of it at all. I am very careful NOT to specify what part of the body it is. I kind of leave it to your imagination - it's better that way!

Best wishes,

Jonathan