Part 3, Chapters 68, 69, 70, 71 and 72 Summary

On his way back to England Nicholas stops off in Rome to pay a visit to Leverrier, now a monk in a reclusive monastery. Leverrier continues to refuse to speak of his experience at Bourani, telling Nicholas he (Leverrier) is determined to continue to live in peace and that by recalling everything that had happened, that peace will be eroded. Nicholas leaves, unsatisfied but still determined to uncover everything possible about Bourani and Conchis. When he returns to London, he's immediately and depressingly re-introduced to its dingy climate, buildings and inhabitants. He becomes more and more depressed as he obsessively searches and watches for Alison, always without result. Finally he resolves to become a little more settled and takes an apartment owned by an opinionated ex-bohemian, female artist named Kemp. As time passes, his attitudes towards Conchis and Bourani...