Grapevine

By PRISCILLA PAINTON/

IT'S A BIRD. IT'S A PLANE. IT'S MIGHTY MAXWELL. From all the huffing and puffing it took to knock down the door, you'd think the British publishing magnate was on a rescue mission. But Robert Maxwell was only trying to save his ego from the prospect of settling in less than spacious surroundings when he arrived early one recent morning at the London headquarters of his new weekly newspaper, the European. Staffers say he was dismayed not to find a king-size office for himself, and used a crowbar to break into the better proportioned lair of the managing director. When its owner showed up some time later, he was stunned to find his chair occupied by his boss. The executive lost his turf, but so far has kept his job.

With reporting by DAVID ELLIS