Chapters 63-65 Summary

Two months after his wife Hélène's death, Hervé Joncour discovers blue flowers on her grave. He thinks about the flowers for days afterwards.

Joncour returns to Madame Blanche's brothel in Nimes but finds a tailor shop instead. He learns that she moved to Paris and is the mistress of an important figure. Joncour searches for her in Paris for six days and. When they meet, she is wearing fashionable Western clothing instead of her white kimono. Her fingers are bare of flowers.

Joncour asks Madame Blanche if she wrote the letter per his late wife's request. Madame Blanche answers that Hélène had composed the letter and that she (Madame Blanche) had merely transcribed it. She suggests that Hélène really wished that she had been the woman Hervé pined for. Joncour leaves Madame Blanche for good...