Chapters 34-35 Summary

That night, Hervé Joncour attends a social function at Hara Kei's house. Joncour spends his time making eye contact with Hara Kei's mistress. He excuses himself from the party and walks around the village. When he finally arrives at his quarters, the mistress is waiting for him with another young girl. She kisses Joncour's hand, places it in the hand of the other girl, and then leaves them alone. Joncour spends the entire night making love to the girl.

Chapters 34-35 Analysis

Hara Kei invites Joncour to his party for the sake of showing himself and his mistress in their roles as host and hostess. Joncour is faced, in public, with the harsh reminder that the woman is paired with Hara Kei, and he is the outsider. The woman understands this too, but nonetheless tries to give herself to Joncour by...