Lord Asriel talks to his daemon, a snow leopard named Stelmaria.He tells the butler (Wren) to go get him some coffee. The butler looks uncomfortable, as guests usually only enter with the Master. It's Lyra's mysterious, powerful, and kind of scary uncle, Lord Asriel. All of a sudden someone else comes in.It's the butler, who trims the candlewick and steals a little smoking leaf. Lyra asks Pan if he thinks there'll be war. There's also been a rumor that war is coming, that a group called the Tartars is invading new areas and threatening to take over Europe.Why is he even here and meeting with the Master? Hiding in the wardrobe, Lyra feels anxious about Lord Asriel.Lyra also admits to wanting to see what goes on in this room.Lyra says that now that she's seen the Master put poison in the decanter, they must stay. Pan still wants to try to leave, but Lyra insists they stay put.She's been hearing the servants talk about something going on – 'something political' – for a while (1.48). They discuss the powder in the drink – poison! Lyra says she knows the Master is up to something.Pan is really worried about getting caught snooping. Now they're trapped! Lyra and Pan hide in a large oak wardrobe. The Master leaves, but before Lyra and Pan can get out of the room, the Steward's bell rings.Then Lyra sees something that bothers her: the Master pours a folded paper of white powder into the decanter of Tokay.

He is involved in exploring and politics and all sorts of mysterious grownup things. Lyra is excited by the mention of Lord Asriel, her uncle, a 'man whom she admired and feared greatly' (1.29).The Master asks if the servant has decanted the Tokay (a type of liquor) for Lord Asriel.The Master asks if Lord Asriel has arrived yet.The Master of Jordan College comes in with a servant, whose daemon is a dog.Suddenly there's a noise in the hall, and Pan directs Lyra to hide behind a chair.Pan (Pantalaimon's nickname) wants to abort the mission, but Lyra decides to sit in one of the green leather armchairs.The Retiring Room is in Jordan College, part of Oxford University, where Lyra has lived most of her life.We can tell that her daemon, whose name is Pantalaimon, is a bit of a scaredy cat, and that Lyra is the one leading this expedition. On the way Lyra stops in the hall to flick the Master's crystal glass, making it ring.Lyra and her daemon sneak into the Master's Retiring Room, where they've never been and they're not supposed to go.

The golden compass 1