Jake doesn’t see Brett again until she returns from San Sebastian. During this time, he also doesn’t see Cohn. He looks forward to his trip to Spain with Bill Gorton, a successful author.

Bill arrives at Jake’s apartment and discusses his stops in Budapest and Vienna, where he drank heavily and doesn’t remember much of what he did. He tells the story of an adventure with a black boxer who had been conned out of money after a match.

They head out to find a place to eat, but instead stop for a drink. Bill says that the secret of his success is that he’s “never been daunted in public” (79). Bill says he saw Harvey Stone at the Crillon and that Harvey was a bit daunted. They set out to find dinner when Brett happens to pass by in a taxi. She stops and tells them that she has just gotten back in town, and that Mike will be arriving that night. Bill and Jake get in the cab and they all go for a drink. At the bar, Bill tells Brett about his travels.

Brett leaves, and Bill remarks to Jake that she’s “damned nice.” Bill then asks who Michael is.