Chapter 25

Summary

• The chapter discusses the escalating thefts of a man. The man begins to steal increasingly larger and more valuable items, including a silver sugar bowl, two Communion chalices, a stained-glass windowpane, and a seventeenth-century, ten foot by ten foot tapestry without his partner, Anne-Catherine's knowledge or approval.
• The man starts to lie to Anne-Catherine about his activities and stops adding newspaper articles about his thefts to their scrapbook.
• He steals multiple items from museums in rapid succession, setting a one-day record by swiping ten items at once. His stolen items are inelegantly stored, often causing damage to priceless works of art.
• He once uses Anne-Catherine's car for a theft without her knowledge, stealing a large statue of the Virgin Mary from Saint Sebastian Chapel.
• His conduct starts to create tension in the relationship, with Anne-Catherine becoming increasingly upset with his behavior and his disregard for the items he is stealing. She describes his stealing as "dirty", "maniacal" and hoarding.
• Despite his increasingly erratic behavior and stealing, Anne-Catherine chooses to stay in their relationship.
• The chapter concludes with the observation that the man's amassed stolen art is less a curated collection and more a "valuable junkyard."