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white scarves flapping in the
breeze. I’m told to ask ‘one of
the men in bowler hats’ to let
me in, which he duly does,
opening a pair of heavy black
gates. Inside the office I
watch a Canadian submit his
forms, have his photograph
taken and read out the
Bodleian promise. He vows
that he will not remove, mark,
deface or injure any of the
documents, he won’t ‘bring
into the Library, or kindle