CHAPTER 22

Summary

• The chapter takes place in 1935 in Madras where Celeste encounters her increasingly alcoholic husband Claude.
• Claude arrives home in a drunken stupor, which prompts an exchange of harsh words between the two, culminating in Celeste telling Claude that she is leaving him.
• Following her departure, she visits Digby to reveal that Claude plans to file for divorce and wrongly accuse him of being the reason. Digby already knew of this due to an anonymous letter warning him.
• Anger and confusion lead to a heated conversation between Digby and Celeste, during which she explains that she needs time on her own to find out who she is.
• Despite the sad conversation, a passionate encounter ensues between the two where Digby symbolically paints on Celeste's body.
• After they sleep, they wake up to find out that a paraffin candle they knocked over in their sleep has set fire to the room.
• In the chaos, Digby tries to free Celeste who is trapped beneath a burning silk sari, trying to restore things to normal, clinging onto the hope that all will be well again.