Summary

The first half of Chapter 3 is set at the wedding of Marian and Paul Richer, the cousin and fiancé introduced in the opening chapter. At the reception, Midhat was introduced to many friends and acquaintances of Doctor Molineu and Jeannette. Many of the men he met, such as Sylvain Leclair, showed special interest in his Arab and Muslim heritage, causing Midhat some confusion and discomfort. Another man, Monsieur Laurent Toupin, was another student in the medical Faculty, and the two men discussed their education in Montpellier. When the Doctor and a man names Patrice rejoined the conversation, talk turns to the war. The men inquire as to when certain friends and colleagues are going off to the front and which have more time before being called up. In the ensuing chaos of conversation, Laurent offers to take Midhat on a walk through the...