Chapters 19-20 Summary

Hervé Joncour travels again to Japan in September of 1862. He is escorted to Hara Kei's village and taken to greet him. Hara Kei is on the shore of a lake facing the water. With him is the young girl wearing an orange dress. The girl sees Joncour approach. Joncour walks to the lake through the thick of some trees; when he reaches Hara Kei, there is only an orange dress and sandals where the girl was standing. The two men talk. When they get up to leave, Joncour discreetly drops one of his gloves on the pile of clothing.

Hervé Joncour spends four days in a guesthouse on Hara Kei's estate. Servants and even villagers see to his every need and desire. On the second day, an Englishman selling arms shares a dinner with Joncour. Joncour inquires about a white woman...