Chapters XXI and XXII Summary

In chapter twenty-one, Newman tries to decide how he will address the wrong that he feels has been done to him. He tries to understand why Claire has made the decisions that she has made and why that she has decided to become a nun. Newman finally decides to try to talk to Claire's mother and brother one more time. Although at first he plans to threaten them with Valentin's secret, his good nature over takes him and he decides instead to appeal to the goodness that he believes is in them.

When Newman enters Fleurieres to talk to the Bellegardes, he is met by Mrs. Bread, who tells him that Claire has already gone back to Paris in order to enter the convent. Mrs. Bread adds that Claire's mother and Urbain were very unhappy when they...