After waking, Daniel thinks of telling his best friend, Tom5s Aguilar, about the secret Cemetery of Forgotten Books, imagining the two of them exploring it together. Remembering his promise to keep the place secret, Daniel decides instead to investigate indirectly by asking his father about the novel Daniel has just obtained, The Shadow of the Wind, and its author, Julibn Carax.

Daniel is surprised when his father, a seasoned bookseller with extensive knowledge of publishing, has never heard of either the book or Carax. Examining the title-page details, Daniel’s father finds that Daniel’s copy is from a June 1936 Barcelona print run by Cabestany Editores, while the first edition appeared in Paris in November 1935 from Galiano & Neuval, apparently in Spanish. Unable to place the publisher or the author, Daniel’s father suggests consulting Gustavo Barcel’, an affluent, eccentric secondhand bookseller known for his memory and taste for rare oddities.

That afternoon, after closing their shop, Daniel and his father go to Els Quatre Gats, the caf’ where Barcel’ meets with his circle of bibliophiles. Barcel’ greets them theatrically, orders drinks and snacks, and quickly focuses on the book Daniel is carrying, masking his interest behind jokes and flamboyant speech.

When Daniel hands over the book, Barcel’ inspects it closely and reacts to the name Carax— with noticeable interest. He immediately tries to buy it, first offering forty duros, then sixty, but Daniel refuses to sell and instead demands information about Julibn Carax and Carax’s other works.

Reassessing Daniel, Barcel’ proposes a trade: Daniel must bring the book to the Ateneo library the next afternoon, and in return Barcel’ will share what he knows about Carax. Daniel agrees, aware that staying on good terms with Barcel’ is his best chance to uncover the author’s identity, while Barcel’ remains quietly watchful of Daniel and the book as the caf’ conversation drifts to other literary gossip.