Bruno becomes obsessed with seeing Guy and entertains a grandiose view of himself: “the deed [...] sat upon his head like a crown” (116). He feels imprisoned in his own house, so he takes a cruise on a friend's yacht with his mother. Bruno tells himself he feels strained by the police enquiry, believes Guy will reconsider, and plans his father's murder. He contemplates doing it himself but is prevented by his father's private detective. He drunkenly falls into the water at Port-au-Prince after a run-in with some Puerto Rican sailors. Bruno is suddenly enraged at Guy and feels jealousy towards Anne. Bruno decides to force Guy to kill his father.

Bruno succeeds in coercing Guy into having a drink with him. Bruno asks Guy why he hasn't turned him over to the police already and says he will frame Guy if he does. Guy considers that Bruno will not break down in court. Instead, Guy decides to distance himself from Bruno. Bruno tells Guy to kill his father. On another occasion, Bruno attempts to intercept Guy leaving his office, but Guy climbs into a taxi.