Clithero’s story continues. He relates how Clarice’s friend, after a month, is still on her deathbed. He visits them in Donegal but returns to Dublin alone. Edgar interrupts and notes (to Mary, his letter’s recipient, and implicitly the reader) how Clithero goes pale and is too overwhelmed by emotion to speak.

When Clithero regains his composure, he describes Sarsefield at his bedside in Mrs. Lorimer’s home. Sarsefield reveals that, while Clithero was away, he saw Arthur at the edge of Mrs. Lorimer’s property. Clithero questions if he truly saw the previously thought deceased twin, and Sarsefield replies: “I should as easily fail to recognize his sister [...] as him” (80).

Sarsefield warns the porter, Old Gowan, that Arthur has returned. The following night, Gowan encounters Arthur at the gate and refuses him entry. Clithero and Sarsefield reflect on the situation: Arthur’s sentence of exile was seven years, and nine have passed, so they have no legal recourse. The men agree to keep these visits from Mrs. Lorimer. They plan to have someone follow Arthur after his next appearance to learn where his “haunts” (81) are. Clithero spends the night pacing in his apartment.

The next day, Mrs.