Part 2, Chapter 19 Summary

Ambrose, Pearce and Merivel perform an autopsy on the dead woman from Harvey, discovering that she has died from heart failure due to her blood becoming too heavy and thick to be pumped by the heart. After the operation, Pearce reveals for the first time that he is suffering from severe lung pain, an inability to breathe and sweats. At the nightly meeting, Edmund reveals that he has lost his contact with God and wants to know a cure for his resulting loneliness. He reveals some dreams he has been having, and Merivel sympathizes because he too has had many dreams he was puzzled about. Edmund is finally gently told he can find God again in the scriptures. Merivel examines Pearce and finds his lungs to be abnormally full of fluid. He notes that Pearce has lost a significant amount of...