Chapter 23

Summary

• Anne-Catherine is in a relationship with Breitwieser, who constantly breaks the law by stealing art, which she helps him with. She loves him but is conflicted about whether to leave him.
• She gives him an ultimatum to choose between her and his art theft, which he sees as forced sacrificing of his happiness. He does not respond, suggesting his preference for his art collection over her.
• She decides to stay with him but compromises by asking him to steal less frequently and more cautiously, particularly not from Switzerland. She supplies him with surgical gloves from her hospital job to prevent fingerprints evidence.
• They go to Paris and Breitwieser ends up stealing a painting by Dutch artist David Vinckboons, while Anne-Catherine serves as a lookout.
• The French therapist César Redondo suggests that Anne-Catherine is a victim, coerced into stealing for Breitwieser, and that their relationship is one of dominance and submission. However, others, including a French art police, believe that she willingly chooses to stay with Breitwieser and seems delighted with their stolen treasures.
• Despite initially agreeing to Anne-Catherine's compromise, Breitwieser continues his thefts, exploiting Anne-Catherine's tolerance of his actions. He steals several artworks, including a painting by a member of the Brueghel family, from various museums.
• Breitwieser discovers a bill for an abortion that Anne-Catherine had without telling him. Feeling betrayed, he confronts her at her workplace and slaps her in anger.
• Anne-Catherine leaves him and moves out of their shared home, back with her parents, leaving Breitwieser and his stolen art collection behind.