Arnoux stops supporting Rosanette financially and now
considers himself her real love. He thinks Frédéric is supporting
her and feels as though he’s playing a trick on Frédéric. He asks
Frédéric questions about why he never visits Madame Arnoux anymore,
and Frédéric lies and says he’s tried but she hasn’t been at home.
Arnoux is actually glad Frédéric has stopped visiting.
One night, Arnoux asks Frédéric to fill in for him at
the guard post. He returns unexpectedly, having just wanted to spend
some time with Rosanette by himself. The men stay at the camp, and Arnoux
sleeps with his gun. Frédéric fantasizes about making the gun go
off so that Arnoux would die.
The next day, Frédéric meets Dambreuse and Martinon on
the street. Dambreuse has just run for election to the Assembly,
which angers Frédéric. But Dambreuse claims he had been forced to
run. Although he had supported the Republic, he was now starting
to try to undermine it. The workers are struggling with poverty,
and the government is asking all young men to join the army or go
work in the country. Unrest is brewing as workers and the bourgeoisie
turn against each other. Dambreuse talks of a new friendship between him
and Arnoux. Later, Frédéric gives Rosanette a choice: him or Arnoux.
Rosanette says she’s not in love with Arnoux.
Frédéric decides that he and Rosanette should leave Paris,
and they go to Fontainebleau. There, they spend a great deal of
time walking around the gardens and forests. Immersed in nature,
their feelings for each other deepen. He learns about Rosanette’s
childhood, and she tells him she tried to kill herself. They move
past this and enjoy their time together.
Frédéric learns that Dussardier has been wounded, and
he wants to leave immediately for Paris. Rosanette tries to stop
him, and he finds her selfish. Once in Paris, it takes Frédéric
a long time to reach Dussardier, as he is treated with suspicion.
When he finally finds him, Mademoiselle Vatnaz is there, nursing
him. Dussardier worries that he is fighting against something that
is just. Meanwhile, the fighting in Paris is worsening. Roque arrives
to join the fighting, and Louise accompanies him, hoping to see
Frédéric. Roque worries himself sick about her.
Summary: Part Three, Chapter 2
The Dambreuses invite a large group to their home, including Frédéric,
the Arnouxes, Cisy, Martinon, Monsieur Roque, and Louise. Martinon
asks Monsieur Dambreuse for permission to marry his niece, Mademoiselle
Cecile, although Madame Dambreuse had wanted Cisy to marry her.
It is clear that Martinon is Madame Dambreuse’s lover. Louise is
happy to see Frédéric, who had been avoiding her. The guests discuss
the state of the city and worry about the rebels. They are all happy
to be enjoying their luxuries, which they had feared losing after
the fall of the monarchy. Frédéric sits next to Madame Arnoux at
dinner, but she barely speaks to him. Cisy tries and fails to win
back Cecile’s attention. Martinon embarrasses Cisy by bringing up
the duel he almost fought with Frédéric, and then Frédéric is embarrassed
when Roque begins asking questions about the portrait of Rosanette,
which he and Louise had seen at Frédéric’s house when they tried
to visit him. Everyone realizes that Rosanette is his lover.
