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Mr。 Aubrey Gilbert； Miss Chapman； Mr。 Gilbert。〃
Aubrey was vaguely aware of the rows of books； of the shining coals；
of the buxom hostess and the friendly terrier； but with the intense focus of
an intelligent young male mind these were all merely appurtenances to the
congenial spectacle of the employee。 How quickly a young man's senses
assemble and assimilate the data that are really relevant！ Without seeming
even to look in that direction he had performed the most amazing feat of
lightning calculation known to the human faculties。 He had added up all
the young ladies of his acquaintance； and found the sum total less than the
girl before him。 He had subtracted the new phenomenon from the universe
as he knew it； including the solar system and the advertising business； and
found the remainder a minus quantity。 He had multiplied the contents of
his intellect by a factor he had no reason to assume 〃constant；〃 and was
startled at what teachers call （I believe） the 〃product。〃 And he had
divided what was in the left…hand armchair into his own career； and found
no room for a quotient。 All of which transpired in the length of time
necessary for Roger to push forward another chair。
With the politeness desirable in a well…bred youth； Aubrey's first
instinct was to make himself square with the hostess。 Resolutely he
occluded blue eyes； silk shirtwaist； and admirable chin from his mental
vision。
〃It's awfully good of you to let me come in；〃 he said to Mrs。 Mifflin。 〃I
was here the other evening and Mr。 Mifflin insisted on my staying to
supper with him。〃
〃I'm very glad to see you；〃 said Helen。 〃Roger told me about you。 I
hope he didn't poison you with any of his outlandish dishes。 Wait till he
tries you with brandied peaches a la Harold Bell Wright。〃
Aubrey uttered some genial reassurance； still making the supreme
sacrifice of keeping his eyes away from where （he felt） they belonged。
〃Mr。 Gilbert has just had a queer experience；〃 said Roger。 〃Tell them
about it。〃
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In the most reckless way； Aubrey permitted himself to be impaled
upon a direct and interested flash of blue lightning。 〃I was having dinner
with your father at the Octagon。〃
The high tension voltage of that bright blue current felt like ohm sweet
ohm； but Aubrey dared not risk too much of it at once。 Fearing to blow out
a fuse； he turned in panic to Mrs。 Mifflin。 〃You see；〃 he explained； 〃I write
a good deal of Mr。 Chapman's advertising for him。 We had an
appointment to discuss some business matters。 We're planning a big
barrage on prunes。〃
〃Dad works much too hard； don't you think？〃 said Titania。
Aubrey welcomed this as a pleasant avenue of discussion leading into
the parkland of Miss Chapman's family affairs； but Roger insisted on his
telling the story of the chef and the copy of Cromwell。
〃And he followed you here？〃 exclaimed Titania。 〃What fun！ I had no
idea the book business was so exciting。〃
〃Better lock the door to…night； Roger；〃 said Mrs。 Mifflin； 〃or he may
walk off with a set of the Encyclopaedia Britannica。〃
〃Why； my dear；〃 said Roger； 〃I think this is grand news。 Here's a man；
in a humble walk of life； so keen about good books that he even pickets a
bookstore on the chance of swiping some。 It's the most encouraging thing
I've ever heard of。 I must write to the Publishers' Weekly about it。〃
〃Well；〃 said Aubrey； 〃you mustn't let me interrupt your little party。〃
〃You're not interrupting；〃 said Roger。 〃We were only reading aloud。
Do you know Dickens' Christmas Stories？〃
〃I'm afraid I don't。〃
〃Suppose we go on reading； shall we？〃
〃Please do。〃
〃Yes； do go on；〃 said Titania。 〃Mr。 Mifflin was just reading about a
most adorable head waiter in a London chop house。〃
Aubrey begged permission to light his pipe； and Roger picked up the
book。 〃But before we read the items of the coffee…room bill；〃 he said； 〃I
think it only right that we should have a little refreshment。 This passage
should never be read without something to accompany it。 My dear； what
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THE HAUNTED BOOKSHOP
do you say to a glass of sherry all round？〃
〃It is sad to have to confess it；〃 said Mrs。 Mifflin to Titania； 〃Mr。
Mifflin can never read Dickens without having something to drink。 I think
the sale of Dickens will fall off terribly when prohibition comes in。〃
〃I once took the trouble to compile a list of the amount of liquor drunk
in Dickens' works；〃 said Roger； 〃and I assure you the total was astounding：
7；000 hogsheads； I believe it was。 Calculations of that sort are great fun。
I have always intended to write a little essay on the rainstorms in the
stories of Robert Louis Stevenson。 You see R。 L。 S。 was a Scot； and well
acquainted with wet weather。 Excuse me a moment； I'll just run down
cellar and get up a bottle。〃
Roger left the room； and they heard his steps passing down into the
cellar。 Bock； after the manner of dogs； followed him。 The smells of
cellars are a rare treat to dogs； especially ancient Brooklyn cellars which
have a cachet all their own。 The cellar of the Haunted Bookshop was； to
Bock； a fascinating place； illuminated by a warm glow from the furnace；
and piled high with split packing…cases which Roger used as kindling。
From below came the rasp of a shovel among coal； and the clear； musical
slither as the lumps were thrown from the iron scoop onto the fire。 Just
then the bell rang in the shop。
〃Let me go；〃 said Titania； jumping up。
〃Can't I？〃 said Aubrey。
〃Nonsense！〃 said Mrs。 Mifflin； laying down her knitting。 〃Neither of
you knows anything about the stock。 Sit down and be comfortable。 I'll be
right back。〃
Aubrey and Titania looked at each other with a touch of
embarrassment。
〃Your father sent you hishis kind regards；〃 said Aubrey。 That was not
what he had intended to say； but somehow he could not utter the word。
〃He said not to read all the books at once。〃
Titania laughed。 〃How funny that you should run into him just when
you were coming here。 He's a duck； isn't he？〃
〃Well； you see I only kno