Albert, physically weakened and cornered by the policeman Carrel, comes to the end of his story, and reveals a last secret to Adrien, the most intimate and the most shocking of all, throwing a raw light on his genealogy, which pushes the latter to commit an irreparable act. Despite this dramatic confrontation, a year later, Adrien, now a father, enjoyed success with the publication of Les Papillons noirs. Despite public recognition, the writer is eaten away by the secrets he carries within him and refuses any contact with his mother.