马吕斯离开了，在一艘开往印度洋的船上签了一份为期五年的合同。在他写给父亲塞萨尔的几封信中，他几乎从未提及范妮。当她发现自己怀孕时，她开始考虑各种选择：自杀、独自抚养孩子、等待马吕斯，或者嫁给向她求婚的老商人奥诺雷·帕尼斯。这些选择令人动容：抚养一个私生子、相信马吕斯最终会回来、相信他会娶她、让她母亲

Honoré Panisse is dying, cheerfully, with friends, wife, and son at his side. He confesses to the priest in front of his friends; he insists that the