In this part, Daniel brings Fermín into the bookstore family. Both Daniel and his father have compassion for the intelligent and humorous Fermín, who has fallen on hard times due to his political allegiance to the losing side in the Civil War. Fermín, Daniel’s father, and Daniel demonstrate their “true” characters: caring, compassionate, and intelligent men, helping each other through life.

Work in the shop picks up through the fall, and Daniel and his father need assistance. Daniel finds Fermín Romero de Torres in his usual street lodgings. Daniel discovers that Fermín’s nemesis is Inspector Fumero, the same man who killed Clara’s father. He brings Fermín home with him, and the talkative man charms his way into Daniel’s father’s heart. His body bears signs of torture. Both Daniel and his father are sympathetic to Fermín’s plight and connive to hide Fermín from Inspector Fumero. Fermín becomes a useful fixture in the bookstore, with his colorful stories and imaginative, devious methods of locating books for customers.

However, the damage Fermín received from Fumero and his thugs is fully revealed when Fermín seems to lose his mind one evening. Screaming and crying incoherently, Fermín causes alarm in his boarding house.