Gradus lands in France. The two soviets who had been searching the castle for the crown jewels are now at the Riviera to break into Disa's estate, but Gradus does not recognize them when he passes them on the street. He learns from a taxi driver that the estate is currently empty. At his hotel, Gradus receives a communication from headquarters, telling him to do nothing.
Kinbote comments on Shade's wordplay. The words "half a shade" are used in the poem to mean half a bit, half a specter, and also half himself. He returns to Gradus's story. Gradus is sitting in the hotel lobby reading when he notes in the paper a break-in at Disa's estate. While he's wondering what it means, he is.....
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