Steerpike rescues the Groan family from the burning library and is the hero of the hour. Sepulchrave Groan goes mad with grief over the loss of his library. Believing he is an owl, he releases the owls in the Tower, and they attack and kill him. Titus becomes Earl of Groan. Flay annoys Lady Groan and is ordered out of the castle. He observes from afar the new Earl's coronation, at which Steerpike cuts a prominent figure.