Part 2, Chapters 52, 53 and 54 Summary

When Nicholas receives a reply to one of his investigative letters about Julie, he feels relieved she is who she says she is. He also feels an easing of his guilt over Alison, and resolves to tell Julie about her. He then pays a visit to Bourani, where he encounters Conchis and challenges him with his knowledge of Leverrier and Mitford. Conchis, however, seems unaffected, referring instead to the theatrical masque games that have always been played at Bourani (see "Quotes", p. 366) and confesses that he is not the director, but an actor like everyone else. He tells Nicholas that after the summer Nicholas will never see Julie again, a comment which Nicholas believes to be the surprise Julie warned him about. Conchis goes on to urge Nicholas to return to England and make up with Alison, and then...