The cher ami visits Clamence in his apartment. Clamence is bedridden due to a fever. He blames it on malaria, which he claims he contracted when he was crowned pope; he then acknowledges that his truths are difficult to disentangle from his lies. Clamence believes that the truth is blinding and lies are comforting. Clamence’s apartment is sparse, and he gave up books long ago because he believes they are full of comforting lies and pretenses.

Clamence explains his status as pope to his curious friend. Clamence was in Paris when World War II began and considered joining the French Resistance. The Resistance, however, required life-endangering commitment and working underground. Clamence then ventured to North Africa and couldn’t decide which side to join. A friend gave him work in Tunisia, and the two were captured by the Germans because Clamence’s friend worked with French forces. Clamence was kept in a prisoner-of-war camp outside the city of Tripoli. Water and food were extremely scarce in the camp. Clamence met a Frenchman he calls “Du Guesclin” after the medieval knight of the same name. Du Guesclin was very religious and patriotic. The heat and lack of food and water made the prisoners delirious.