Nearly three days have passed without incident since Mallory encountered Monsieur Le Bleu on the cellar stairs. His silence unnerves her, though Julie credits Mallory’s fake herbal cleansings for the quiet. Lucienne and Béatrice have welcomed Triphine into their circle, and despite Triphine’s complaints about them, she seems to enjoy the company. Mallory and Anaïs spend their days performing elaborate fake witchcraft around the house, but Armand is too busy with the fall harvest to notice. Yvette watches with contempt.

Mallory sprinkles fake holy water from her washbasin in the doorways, and Yvette informs her Armand has asked for her. Worried he has grown suspicious, Mallory finds him in the vestibule with a basket. He asks about her progress and invites her on a picnic to discuss it. When Mallory expresses her distaste for eating outdoor, he suggests a boat ride instead. She doesn’t see the appeal and declines that as well. As she turns to leave, he tentatively asks if she would like to see the family cemetery, describing it as overgrown, damp, and horrible. The description piques her interest.