Summary

Chapter 17 begins with Vianne in her classroom teaching her students. The Gestapo and a local gendarme who is collaborating with the Nazis take a teacher away accusing him of distributing anti-German propaganda. When Vianne questions them, they ask if she helps him with the distribution. She tells him she doesn't and they fire her, telling her she shouldn't ask questions.

Vianne considers sending Antoine a letter telling him she's out of money and has no job, but realizes she can't send him such news when he is a prisoner. Beck comes in and informs her he's leaving for a few weeks to see his wife. He says he's not the man he was when he left two years ago and things change when couples are apart so long. Vianne agrees and a nightingale sings a sad song.

Beck notices Vianne is upset and...