Summary

Anne-Catherine loves Stéphane very much, but she is tired of their life together. She attempts to give Stéphane an ultimatum: either her or the art. Anne-Catherine was hopeful that he would choose her, but he remains silent. Though her plan failed, Anne-Catherine stays with Stéphane anyways, though still deeply unhappy with the life he has chosen. As a compromise, she makes him agree to steal fewer things, and much less often. He adheres to this arrangement for a month, avoiding museums and galleries, and not taking anything.

In June 1997, the couple travels to Paris for the weekend, to see a pre-sale showing from a prestigious French auction house, Drouot-Montaigne. There, Stéphane falls for a painting by the Dutch artist David Vinckboons. Anne-Catherine begs him not to take it, but he is smitten. She agrees, begrudgingly, to serve as lookout...