The narrative moves to Gaylord’s in Madrid, following Karkov as he enters a party in his apartment. He hears rumors that the fascists have been fighting and killing themselves, and he hears the whispers of an offensive that night, or early morning, led by Golz. He knows Robert is in the area set for the attack. He excuses himself from the party, presumably to rest, but he plans to go to the spot of the attack to check in with Golz in the morning.

Pilar wakes Robert at two o’clock in the morning and tells him that Pablo has taken things from his packs and left; she does not know what is missing. Robert finds that the items for setting off the explosives are missing, as are two horses. Putting his anger with her aside, Robert assures her that there are other ways to make the explosives go off. He sends her back to sleep, although she claims she cannot sleep after betraying the Republic. He takes the bags to his own bed to sleep until they must start their work at four o’clock.