Summary

Chapter 5 returns to Maurice and Charlie at the port of Algeciras. Maurice and Charlie converse about death. Charlie claims to have generally made his peace with death. Maurice says that the only thing close to joy in life is fleeting moments of peace and quiet; he fears that the afterlife will be just as painful as life. He also makes a vague allusion to Cynthia that implies that she is no longer in his life. A boat arrives from Tangier. Maurice and Charlie watch the passengers exit, and they ask some of them about Dilly. However, their search is fruitless. Maurice then recalls how Dilly became rebellious in her teenage years. Maurice tried to be a good father. At the same time, Maurice and Charlie were continuing to struggle with obstacles in their business. Charlie says that, in his opinion, Maurice was a good...