a minute," said Helen, calling from the
telephone. "I'm going to let Bock in. He's in the back yard."

"I think they're both crazy," said Titania. "Let's put the Cromwell
back on the shelf and let this creature go." She put out her hand for
the book.

"Stop!" cried Aubrey, and seized her arm. "Don't touch that book!"

Titania shrank back, frightened by his voice. Had everyone gone insane?

"Here, Mr. Metzger," said Aubrey, "you put that book back on the shelf
where it belongs. Don't try to get away. I've got this revolver
pointed at you."

He and Roger were both startled by the chef's face. Above the unkempt
beard his eyes shone with a half-crazed lustre, and his hands shook.

"Very well," he said. "Show me where it goes."

"I'll show you," said Titania.

Aubrey put out his arm in front of the girl. "Stay where you are," he
said angrily.

"Down in the History alcove," said Roger. "The front alcove on the
other side of the shop. We've both got you covered."

Instead of taking the volume from the suitcase, Metzger picked up the
whole bag, holding it flat. He carried it to the alcove they
indicated. He placed the case carefully on the floor, and picked the
Cromwell volume out of it.

"Where would you want it to go?" he said in an odd voice. "This is a
valuable book."

"On the fifth shelf," said Roger. "Over there----"

"For God's sake stand back," said Aubrey. "Don't go near him. There's
something damnable about this."

"You poor fools!" cried Metzger harshly. "To hell with you and your
old books." He drew his hand back as though to throw the volume at
them.

There was a quick patter of feet, and Bock, growling, ran down the
aisle. In the same instant, Aubrey, obeying some unexplained impulse,
gave Roger a violent push back into the Fiction alcove, seized Titania
roughly in his arms, and ran with her toward the back of the shop.

Metzger's arm was raised, about to throw the book, when Bock darted at
him and buried his teeth in the man's leg. The Cromwell fell from his
hand.

There was a shattering explosion, a dull roar, and for an instant
Aubrey thought the whole bookshop had turned into a vast spinning top.
The floor rocked and sagged, shelves of books were hurled in every
direction. Carrying Titania, he had just reached the steps leading to
the domestic quarters when they were flung sideways into the corner
behind Roger's desk. The air was full of flying books. A row of
e