Part 2, Chapter 1 Summary

Meursault is arrested and questioned by the police and the court appoints an attorney for him. It never occurred to Meursault that the case would be very complicated. As usual, Meursault is acutely aware of his physical surroundings and takes note of the light levels in the interrogation rooms as well as the smells, which are different from his normal life.

Meursault's attorney arrives the next day and is perplexed by the young man's lack of emotion about his current situation or about any of the events which have led Meursault to this place. The attorney has also been investigating Meursault's background. The people who are interviewed comment on Meursault's callous behavior, especially during his mother's funeral.

The local magistrate questions Meursault the next day. The magistrate is more interested in the accused man's personal life than the facts of the...