One of the grooms, hearing his master called a rascal and a coward,
thereupon ran up and snatched away Don Quixote's spear, which he broke
in pieces. Then with each piece he belabored the poor Knight till the
broken lance flew into splinters. The merchants then rode away,
leaving Don Quixote lying where he fell, still shouting threats, but
quite unable to rise.

There he was found by a man who knew him well, and who with great
difficulty mounted him on his donkey and took him home. When at last
they reached Don Quixote's house, the poor Knight was put to bed,
where he lay for many days, raving, and very ill.

During this time the Curate of the village and the Barber came and
burned nearly all the books which Don Quixote had so loved.

"For," said they, "it is by reading these books that the poor
gentleman has lost his mind, and if he reads them again he will never
get better."

So a bonfire was made of the books, and the door of Don Quixote's
study was bricked up.

When the Knight was again able to go about, he made at once for his
study and his beloved books. Up and down the house he searched without
saying a word, and often he would stand where the door of the study
used to be, feeling with his hands and gazing about. At last he asked
his housekeeper to show him the study.

"Study!" cried the woman, "what study? There is no study in this house
now, nor any books."