A few years earlier, after a promotion, Relais marries Violette. The two are happy together, though Relais longs to return to France, and Violette cannot conceive. When Valmorain arrives carrying Tété’s first baby, the couple agree to take care of the infant temporarily and soon come to care for him as a son. They offer to emancipate Loula, but she refuses to leave Violette.

A few years later, Violette and Loula reveal to Relais that they have, over the years, saved enough money to return to France. Relais plans to resign from the military.

After deciding to return for France, Violette and Relais write to Valmorain, offering to buy the boy, named Jean-Martin, from him. They wish to legally adopt him. Valmorain visits and is pleased to see that Jean-Martin is healthy and happy. He offers to let them keep him at no cost beyond what they already spent to raise him.

Tété’s pregnancy progresses. On the day she goes into labor, she notices that Gambo is missing, and she wonders if he went to join the Maroons.