Chapter 5 (section vi) Summary

Two weeks later, Elliott visits Maugham in London and tells him that Larry and Sophie never got married. Elliott says that Sophie disappeared after she was supposed to meet Isabel at her apartment. Isabel was late, and when she finally got to her apartment, Sophie was gone. They looked for days, but they couldn't find her. Larry didn't talk about it, and Isabel said it was probably for the best because he didn't really love Sophie anyway.

Maugham would not see Isabel for another year, staying in London until Christmas before going to the Riviera to work on his novel. During this time, Elliott, whose health is declining, tries to get him out to the parties. Maugham instead works on his novel, and when he finishes a rough draft he decides to celebrate by sailing up the coast.

While...