Document:

<PAGE>

Exhibit 10.4

                                                                  EXECUTION COPY

                SECOND AMENDMENT TO PLEDGE AND SECURITY AGREEMENT

         SECOND AMENDMENT TO PLEDGE AND SECURITY AGREEMENT, dated as of October
27, 1999, between BARNES & NOBLE, INC., a corporation duly organized and validly
existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the "Company"); each of the
Subsidiaries of the Company identified under the caption "SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS"
on the signature pages hereof (individually, a "Subsidiary Guarantor" and,
collectively, the "Subsidiary Guarantors" and, together with the Company, the
"Obligors"); and THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, as agent for the lenders or other
financial institutions or entities party, as lenders, to the Credit Agreement
referred to below (in such capacity, together with its successors in such
capacity, the "Administrative Agent").

         The Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors, certain lenders and the
Administrative Agent (i) are parties to a Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
dated as of November 18, 1997 (as modified and supplemented and in effect from
time to time, the "Amended and Restated Credit Agreement"), providing, subject
to the terms and conditions thereof, for extensions of credit (by making of
loans and issuing letters of credit) to be made by said lenders to the Company
in an aggregate principal or face amount not exceeding $850,000,000 (as that
amount may be increased as provided therein), and (ii) concurrently herewith and
in connection with the Babbage's Etc. Acquisition, are entering into Amendment
No. 2 to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement. The Obligors and the Agent
wish to amend the Security Agreement referred to in the Amended and Restated
Credit Agreement in certain respects and, accordingly, agree as follows:

         Section 1.  Definitions.  Except as otherwise defined in this
Amendment, terms defined in the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement are used
herein as defined therein.

         Section 2:  Amendments. Subject to the satisfaction of the conditions
precedent specified in Section 3 below, but effective as of the date hereof, the
Annexes to the Security Agreement shall be amended as follows:

(a)      Annex 1.  Annex 1 to the Security Agreement shall be amended in its
         entirety to read as Annex 1 hereto.

(b)      Annex 2.  Annex 2 to the Security Agreement shall be amended in its
         entirety to read as Annex 2 hereto.

(c)      Annex 3.  Annex 3 to the Security Agreement shall be amended in its
         entirety to read as Annex 3 hereto.

(d)      Annex 4.  Annex 4 to the Security Agreement shall be amended in its
         entirety to read as Annex 4 hereto.

(e)      Annex 5.  Annex 5 to the Security Agreement shall be amended in its
         entirety to read as Annex 5 hereto.

         Section 2. Conditions Precedent.  As provided in Section 2 above, the
amendments set forth in Section 2 shall become effective, as of the date hereof,
upon the due execution and delivery of this Amendment by the Obligors and the
Agent.

                                       1
<PAGE>

         Section 3. Miscellaneous. Except as herein provided, the Security
Agreement shall remain unchanged and in full force and effect. This Amendment
may be executed in any number of counterparts, all of which taken together shall
constitute one and the same amendatory instrument and any of the parties hereto
may execute this Amendment by signing any such counterpart. This Amendment shall
be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State
of New York.

                                       [signature pages to follow]

<PAGE>

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Second
Amendment to be duly executed and delivered as of the day and year first above
written.

                                       BARNES & NOBLE, INC.

                                       By  /s/Michael Archbold
                                         -------------------------------
                                         Title:Vice President, Treasurer

                                       SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS

                                       B. DALTON BOOKSELLER, INC.

                                       By /s/Michael Archbold
                                         -------------------------------
                                         Title:Vice President, Treasurer

                                       BARNES & NOBLE BOOKSELLERS, INC.

                                       By /s/Michael Archbold
                                         -------------------------------
                                         Title:Vice President, Treasurer

                                       MARBORO BOOKS CORP.

                                       By /s/Michael Archbold
                                         -------------------------------
                                         Title:Vice President, Treasurer

                                       DOUBLEDAY BOOK SHOPS, INC.

                                       By /s/Michael Archbold
                                         -------------------------------
                                         Title:Vice President, Treasurer

<PAGE>

                                       CCI HOLDINGS, INC.

                                       By/s/Michael Archbold
                                         -------------------------------
                                         Title:Vice President, Treasurer

                                       BABBAGE'S ETC. LLC

                                       By  /s/Leonard Riggio
                                         -------------------------------
                                         Title: Chairman

                                       VENDAMERICA, INC.

                                       By  /s/Michael Archbold
                                         -------------------------------
                                         Title:Vice President, Treasurer

                                       THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK,
                                       as Administrative Agent

                                       By /s/Barry K. Bergman
                                         -------------------------------
                                         Title:Vice President

<PAGE>

                                                                         ANNEX 1

                                  PLEDGED STOCK

BARNES & NOBLE, INC.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

         Issuer                Certificate             Registered           Number of Shares
                                  Nos.                   Owner
--------------------------    --------------      ---------------------     --------------------------------
<S>                            <C>                <C>                      <C>
B. Dalton Bookseller,              C-1            Barnes & Noble, Inc.      360 shares of common stock,
Inc.                                                                        par value $100

Barnes & Noble Booksellers,         1             Barnes & Noble, Inc.      100 shares of common stock,
Inc.                                                                        par value $1

Marboro Books Corp.                 4             Barnes & Noble, Inc.      10 shares of common stock, no
                                                                            par value
CCI Holdings, Inc.                  1             Barnes & Noble, Inc.      3,000 shares of common stock,
                                                                            par value $1
B&N. Sub Corp                       1             Barnes & Noble, Inc.      100 shares of common stock,
                                                                            par value $1
B. DALTON BOOKSELLER, INC.

         Issuer                Certificate             Registered           Number of Shares
                                  Nos.                   Owner
--------------------------    --------------      ---------------------     --------------------------------
Doubleday Book Shops,               5             B. Dalton                 1,000 shares of common stock,
Inc.                                              Bookseller, Inc.          par value $1

Babbage's Etc. LLC                 N/A            B. Dalton                 86.5% Membership Interest
                                                  Bookseller, Inc.

Vendamerica, Inc.                   2             B. Dalton                 1,000 shares of common stock,
                                                  Bookseller, Inc.          no par value
</TABLE>

BARNES & NOBLE BOOKSELLERS, INC.

         NONE

MARBORO BOOKS CORP.

         NONE

DOUBLEDAY BOOK SHOPS, INC.

         NONE

<PAGE>

CCI HOLDINGS, INC.
------------------

         NONE

BABBAGE'S ETC. LLC.
-------------------

         NONE

VENDAMERICA, INC
----------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                       Certificate                  Registered
           Issuer                         Nos.                        Owner                  Number of Shares
   --------------------               ------------          ----------------------      -------------------------
<S>                                      <C>                <C>                         <C>
Babbage's Etc. LLC                         N/A              Vendamerica, Inc.           13.5% Membership
                                                                                        Interest
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

                                                                         ANNEX 2

                     LIST OF PATENTS AND PATENT APPLICATIONS

BARNES & NOBLE, INC.
--------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                       <C>                       <C>               <C>                       <C>
File                       Patent                    Country           Registration No.          Date
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NONE

B. DALTON BOOKSELLER, INC.
--------------------------

File                       Patent                    Country           Registration No.          Date
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NONE

BARNES & NOBLE BOOKSELLERS, INC.
--------------------------------

File                       Patent                    Country           Registration No.          Date
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NONE

MARBORO BOOKS CORP.
-------------------

File                       Patent                    Country           Registration No.          Date
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NONE

DOUBLEDAY BOOK SHOPS, INC.
--------------------------

File                       Patent                    Country           Registration No.          Date
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NONE

CCI HOLDINGS, INC.
------------------

File                       Patent                    Country           Registration No.          Date
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NONE

BABBAGE'S ETC. LLC
------------------

File                       Patent                    Country           Registration No.          Date
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NONE
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

VENDAMERICA, INC.
-----------------

<TABLE>
<S>                        <C>                       <C>               <C>                       <C>
File                       Patent                    Country           Registration No.          Date
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NONE
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

                                                                         ANNEX 3

                LIST OF TRADE NAMES, TRADEMARKS, SERVICES MARKS,
                  TRADEMARK AND SERVICE MARK REGISTRATIONS AND
            APPLICATIONS FOR TRADEMARK AND SERVICE MARK REGISTRATIONS

                               A. U.S. Trademarks
                               ------------------

BARNES & NOBLE, INC.
--------------------

                                                 Application (A)
                                                 Registration (R)
Mark                                             or Series (S) No.
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Blink                                             75/320,806(A)

What Are You Reading                              75/057,954(A)

Premier Music (Design)                            1,903,140(R)

Meet Me at Barnes & Noble                         1,910,598(R)

The Book Lover's Second Home                      1,930,860(R)

Nite Reader                                       2,105,941(R)

B. DALTON BOOKSELLER, INC.
--------------------------

                                                 Application (A)
                                                 Registration (R)
Mark                                             or Series (S) No.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Books Dalton                                      1,667,902 (R)

B. Dalton Jr.                                     1,684,036 (R)

B. Dalton Jr. (Design)                            1,667,039 (R)

Booksavers                                        1,597,933 (R)

P.B. Pages                                        1,814,553 (R)

B. Dalton's                                       1,293,494 (R)

Barnes & Noble Jr.
(Design)                                          1,609,403 (R)

                                       1
<PAGE>

Barnes & Noble Jr.                                1,606,005 (R)

B. Dalton Bookseller                                846,824 (R)

B. Dalton                                         1,158,498 (R)

Hooked on Books                                   1,147,660 (R)

People Who Know Books
Know B. Dalton                                    1,306,552 (R)

Amaranth Press                                    1,404,928 (R)

Pickwick                                          1,047,832 (R)

Lamp of Learning
(Design)                                          1,607,811 (R)

BARNES & NOBLE BOOKSELLERS, INC.
--------------------------------

                                                 Application (A)
                                                 Registration (R)
Mark                                             or Series (S) No.
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Bookstar (Design)                                 1,558,604 (R)

Amaranth Press                                    1,404,928(R)

MARBORO BOOKS CORP.
-------------------

                                                 Application (A)
                                                 Registration (R)
Mark                                             or Series (S) No.
-------------------------------------------------------------------

NONE

CCI HOLDINGS, INC.
------------------

                                                 Application (A)
                                                 Registration (R)
Mark                                             or Series (S) No.
-------------------------------------------------------------------

NONE

<PAGE>

DOUBLEDAY BOOK SHOPS, INC.
--------------------------

                                                 Application (A)
                                                 Registration (R)
Mark                                             or Series (S) No.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
The Old Corner                                    (Mass.) 0025314 (R)
  Bookstore

Books of All Publishers
Since 1910  (and Design)                          1,516,823 (R)

BABBAGE'S ETC. LLC
------------------

                                                 Application (A)
                                                 Registration (R)
Mark                                             or Series (S) No.
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Babbage's                                         1,345,315 (R) and
                                                  1,569,315 (R)

America's Software for                            1,547,310 (R) and
the Home                                          1,553,597 (R)

Babbage's Software for                            1,345,205 (R)
the Home

Gamestop                                          1,707,460 (R)

VENDAMERICA, INC.
-----------------

                                                 Application (A)
                                                 Registration (R)
Mark                                             or Series (S) No.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
NONE

<PAGE>

                               B. U.S. Tradenames
                               ------------------

BABBAGE'S ETC. LLC
------------------

------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Mark
-----------------------------------------------------------------

Software Etc.

VENDAMERICA, INC.
-----------------

------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Mark
-----------------------------------------------------------------

NONE

                               Foreign Trademarks
                               ------------------

BARNES & NOBLE, INC.
--------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

<S>                           <C>                                  <C>                        <C>
                               Application (A)                                                  Registration or
Mark                           Registration (R)                     Country                     Filing Date (F)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NONE

B. DALTON BOOKSELLER, INC.
--------------------------

                               Application (A)                                                  Registration or
Mark                           Registration (R)                     Country                     Filing Date (F)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NONE

BARNES & NOBLE BOOKSELLERS, INC.
--------------------------------

                               Application (A)                                                  Registration or
Mark                           Registration (R)                     Country                     Filing Date (F)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

NONE

<PAGE>

MARBORO BOOKS CORP.
-------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                           <C>                                  <C>                         <C>
                               Application (A)                                                  Registration or
Mark                           Registration (R)                     Country                     Filing Date (F)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NONE

DOUBLEDAY BOOK SHOPS, INC.
--------------------------

                               Application (A)                                                  Registration or
Mark                           Registration (R)                     Country                     Filing Date (F)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NONE

CCI HOLDINGS, INC.
------------------

                               Application (A)                                                  Registration or
Mark                           Registration (R)                     Country                     Filing Date (F)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NONE

BABBAGE'S ETC. LLC
------------------

                               Application (A)                                                  Registration or
Mark                           Registration (R)                     Country                     Filing Date (F)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NONE

VENDAMERICA, INC.
-----------------

                               Application (A)                                                  Registration or
Mark                           Registration (R)                     Country                     Filing Date (F)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

NONE

<PAGE>

                                                                         ANNEX 4

                LIST OF CONTRACTS, LICENSES AND OTHER AGREEMENTS
                        RELATING TO INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

BARNES & NOBLE, INC.
--------------------

License Agreement dated as of February 11, 1989 between Barnes & Noble College
Bookstores, Inc. and Barnes & Noble Discount Bookstores, Inc. (a predecessor of
B. Dalton Bookseller, Inc.), and Consents to License Agreement Assignments,
dated as of November 18, 1988 and November 16, 1992, respectively.

B. DALTON BOOKSELLER, INC.
--------------------------

Letter Agreement dated as of February 21, 1989 from Scribner's Book Companies,
Inc. and MacMillan, Inc. to B. Dalton Bookseller, Inc.

BARNES & NOBLE BOOKSELLERS, INC.
--------------------------------

         NONE

MARBORO BOOKS CORP.
-------------------

         NONE

DOUBLEDAY BOOK SHOPS, INC.
--------------------------

Trade Mark and Service Mark License dated as of May 31, 1990 between Bantam
Doubleday Dell Publishing Group, Inc. and Doubleday Book Shops, Inc.

CCI HOLDINGS, INC.
------------------

         NONE

BABBAGE'S ETC. LLC
------------------

         NONE

VENDAMERICA, INC.
-----------------

         NONE

<PAGE>

                                                                         ANNEX 5

                                LIST OF LOCATIONS

BARNES & NOBLE, INC.                        B. DALTON BOOKSELLER, INC.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                        <C>      <C>
1.       122 Fifth Avenue                   1.       122 Fifth Avenue
         New York, NY  10011                         New York, NY  10011

2.       1400 Old Country Road              2.       1400 Old Country Road
         Westbury, New York 11590                    Westbury, NY  11590

BARNES & NOBLE BOOKSELLERS, INC.            3.       100 Middlesex Center Boulevard
--------------------------------                     Jamesburg, NJ 08831

                                            4.       331 Herrod Drive
1.       122 Fifth Avenue                            Jamesburg, NJ 08831
         New York, NY  10011
                                            5.       308 Herrod Drive
                                                     Jamesburg, NJ 08831
2.       1400 Old Country Road
         Westbury, New York 11590

</TABLE>

MARBORO BOOKS CORP.
-------------------
                                            CCI HOLDINGS, INC.
1.       122 Fifth Avenue                   ------------------
         New York, NY  10011
                                             1.       122 Fifth Avenue
2.       1400 Old Country Road                        New York, NY  10011
         Westbury, New York 11590
                                             2.       1400 Old Country Road
3.       One Pond Road                                Westbury, NY 11590
         Rockleigh, NJ  07647
                                             3.       6411 Vurleson Road
                                                      Austin, TX 78744

DOUBLEDAY BOOK SHOPS, INC.
--------------------------

1.       122 Fifth Avenue
         New York, NY  10011

2.       1400 Old Country Road
         Westbury, New York 11590

BABBAGE'S ETC. LLC
------------------

1.       122 Fifth Avenue
         New York, NY  10011

2.       1400 Old Country Road
         Westbury, New York 11590

3.       2250 William D. Tate Avenue
         Grapevine, TX 76051

<PAGE>

VENDAMERICA, INC
----------------

1.       122 Fifth Avenue
         New York, NY  10011

2.       1400 Old Country Road
         Westbury, New York 11590

3.       2250 William D. Tate Avenue
         Grapevine, TX 76051<PAGE>

Exhibit 10.11
-------------

                              BARNES & NOBLE, INC.

                                RECORD OF ACTION
                                ----------------

Pursuant to authority granted to me in my capacity as Vice President, Human
Resources Administration of Barnes & Noble, Inc. (the "Company") by the Board of
Directors of the Company (the "Board") at a special meeting of the Board held on
November 12, 1998 which extended to me authority to execute such documents or
take such actions as may be necessary or appropriate to carryout the intent and
purpose of the resolutions adopted at said meeting, the undersigned hereby takes
the following action.

RESOLVED, that the Barnes & Noble, Inc. Employees' Retirement Plan be and hereby
is amended, effective as of November 1, 1998, as hereinafter indicated:

Appendix C relating to the treatment of transfers between Barnes & Noble, Inc.
and one of its affiliated companies and barnesandnoble.com llc,
attached hereto and made part hereof, is hereby adopted and annexed to the
Barnes & Noble, Inc. Employees' Retirement Plan.

Date:    September 9, 1999                           /s/Michelle Smith
         -----------------                           -----------------

<PAGE>

          APPENDIX C. SPECIAL PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO PARTICIPANTS WHO

                    TRANSFER DIRECTLY BETWEEN AN EMPLOYER AND

                      BARNESANDNOBLE.COM LLC

Except as otherwise modified or expanded in this Appendix C, the provisions of
this Plan, as contained in the text to which this Appendix is attached, shall
determine the benefits payable to or on behalf of a Participant covered under
this Appendix. The Plan Sections referenced below are hereby modified or
expanded in accordance with the following special provisions applicable to said
Participant.

                             ARTICLE 1. DEFINITIONS

1.09     Certified Earnings

         If, after November 1, 1998, a Participant transfers directly from the
         employ of an Employer to the employ of barnesandnoble.com llc
         ("Transferred-Out Participant"), the remuneration paid to said
         Transferred-Out Participant after said transfer and during any period
         of employment with barnesandnoble.com llc which is recognized under the
         provisions of Section 3.01 of this Appendix C as Years of Vesting
         Service shall be recognized as "Certified Earnings" under Section 1.09
         and included in the calculation of Final Average Compensation under
         Section 1.19 of the Plan to the extent such remuneration would have
         been recognized as Certified Earnings under Section 1.09 of the Plan
         had it been earned while employed as an Eligible Employee.

         Notwithstanding any Plan provisions to the contrary, the provisions of
         this Section 1.09 of this Appendix C shall cease to be applicable on
         and after the date the barnesandnoble.com llc Employees' Retirement
         Plan ceases to provide future benefit

<PAGE>

         accruals for its employees (the "Freeze Date") and any remuneration
         paid to a Transferred-Out Participant after the Freeze Date shall not
         be recognized as Certified Earnings under the provisions of the Plan
         and this Appendix C. Anything contained herein to the contrary
         notwithstanding, if any Transferred-Out Participant ceases to be
         employed by barnesandnoble.com llc and is subsequently reemployed by
         barnesandnoble.com llc remuneration paid to said Participant during the
         period of subsequent employment with barnesandnoble.com llc shall not
         be recognized as Certified Earnings under Section 1.09.

         If, after November 1, 1998, an Employee transfers directly from the
         employ of barnesandnoble.com llc to the employ of the Employer, the
         remuneration paid to said Eligible Employee prior to the transfer and
         during any period of employment with barnesandnoble.com llc, as an
         "eligible employee" as such term is defined under the provisions of the
         barnesandnoble.com llc Employees' Retirement Plan which is recognized
         under the provisions of Section 3.01 of this Appendix C as Years of
         Vesting Service shall be recognized as "Certified Earnings" under
         Section 1.09 and included in the calculation of Final Average
         Compensation under Section 1.19 of the Plan to the extent such
         remuneration would have been recognized as Certified Earnings under
         Section 1.09 of the Plan had it been earned while employed as an
         Eligible Employee.

1.41     Termination of Employment

         If an Employee transfers directly from the employ of an Employer to the
         employ of barnesandnoble.com llc, a Termination of Employment under the
         provisions of this Plan shall not be deemed to have occurred while said
         Employee remains in the continuous employ of barnesandnoble.com llc.

<PAGE>

                            ARTICLE 2. PARTICIPATION

2.02     Determination of Eligibility Service

         With respect to an Eligible Employee who after November 1, 1998
         transfers directly from the employ of barnesandnoble.com llc to the
         employ of an Employer, the period of said Employee's service rendered
         immediately prior to said transfer as an employee of barnesandnoble.com
         llc shall be recognized as Years of Eligibility Service under Section
         2.02 of the Plan, to the extent said period of employment would have
         been recognized under the Plan had it been rendered as an Employee.

                               ARTICLE 3. SERVICE

3.01     Years of Vesting Service

         If, after November 1, 1998, a Participant transfers directly from the
         employ of an Employer to the employ of barnesandnoble.com llc, the
         period of said Participant's employment with barnesandnoble.com llc
         rendered after said direct transfer shall be recognized as Years of
         Vesting Service under the provisions of Section 3.01, to the extent
         said period of employment would have been recognized under the Plan had
         it been rendered as an Employee. The increases in said Participant's
         age during any period of employment with barnesandnoble.com llc, which
         is recognized as Years of Vesting Service under the provisions of this
         Section 3.01, shall be recognized for eligibility and early retirement
         subsidy purposes under the provisions of this Plan, and such
         Participant shall not incur a Termination of Employment under this Plan
         while he remains in the continuous employ of barnesandnoble.com llc.

<PAGE>

         Anything contained herein to the contrary notwithstanding, if any such
         Participant ceases to be employed by barnesandnoble.com llc and is
         subsequently reemployed by barnesandnoble.com llc, the subsequent
         employment with barnesandnoble.com llc shall not be recognized as Years
         of Vesting Service under Section 3.01.

         If an Employee, after November 1, 1998, transfers directly from the
employ of barnesandnoble.com llc to the employ of the Employer, the period of
said Participant's employment with barnesandnoble.com llc rendered prior to said
direct transfer shall be recognized as Years of Vesting Service under the
provisions of Section 3.01, to the extent said period of employment would have
been recognized under the Plan had it been rendered as an Employee.

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