Dominique and Peter have just returned from a party at Vincent Knowlton's house, and they talk about how correctly Peter behaved. He reprimands Dominique for laughing at theosophy, something Mrs. Marsh believes in, and tells her she should have worn her emerald bracelet. He realizes that she has never initiated a conversation with him. He talks about The Gallant Gallstone and paraphrases a review of it as his own opinion. Dominique easily agrees with him. He realizes that she always agrees with him and that she has been, throughout the twenty months of their marriage, completely indifferent to him. He had expected marrying her to change his life completely, but found that she just fit herself into his existing life, which is exactly what he would have desired her to do, but somehow he feels lacking. His mother has moved out of the apartment, exasperated with Dominique's polite indifference. Peter feels as though he doesn't exist when he's with her. Fed up with her agreeing with everything he says, he bursts out and tells her he wishes she would express an opinion. In response, she asks whose opinion he'd like her to express.
He comes to the realization that she has no soul, and asks where her "I" is, and she counters with "Where's yours?" She explains that he never wanted her to be real, only to reflect his own desires. Peter confesses that he has always hated Roark, and tells Dominique that she should not have taken her revenge on Roark by marrying him.
Dominique says that it was never her intention to ruin him, though she probably has. Peter tells her that she has changed him; he will never go back to the way he was. After sitting for a while together in silence, the phone rings and Peter returns to his former manner, speaking to Ellsworth and inviting him to come over. Ellsworth comes, and he and Peter talk about how The Gallant Gallstone proves there is no free will. The discussion turns to the Stoneridge commission; Peter says that if it were any other commission, he would already have it, but since it is Wynand's, it is more difficult. He admits that he would give his soul for it. Ellsworth tells them that Wynand has agreed to see Dominique who would attempt to convince him to hire Peter. Despite the rumors that Wynand only does favors for beautiful women if they sleep with him, Peter is enthusiastic about Dominique going to see him. Peter leaves the room to get drinks, and Ellsworth tells Dominique that he thinks her marriage is only half a failure. The successful part is that he has Peter exactly where he wants him; the failure is that Peter has not destroyed Dominique. He believes Wynand might do so - he has wanted Wynand to meet Dominique for some time. Ellsworth, knowing Roark is the man she loves, tells Dominique that he knows she would sell herself only to get a commission for Peter Keating, and never for the man she loves or herself. Keating returns and toasts to Gail Wynand and The Banner.
