CHAPTER 20

Summary

• The chapter takes place in Madras in the year 1935, and centers on a character named Digby observing a funeral for Jeb through a church window.
• Jeb was a handsome potential Olympic hockey player and was admired in his community. He died in an operation and Digby is worried about the consequences of his death.
• An acquaintance named Owen approaches Digby after the service and informs him that there will be an investigation into the operating surgeon's negligence during Jeb's operation. It's implied this surgeon could be Claude.
• Owen shares that Jeb went to the hospital he did because he was dating Rose, the hospital superintendent's daughter, which led to conflict within his family.
• Various letters to a newspaper editor pop up throughout the community blaming the surgeon's negligence for Jeb's death and demanding thorough investigation to find out the truth.
• Celeste (who appears to be married to the surgeon in question), reads the flurry of accusatory letters, while her husband Claude tries to maintain a façade of normalcy at home despite the tension.
• Toby, one of Claude's brothers who is the chief secretary to the viceroy, visits the couple and privately confronts Claude about the trouble he has caused, warning him to figure out a way to handle it.
• Claude then has a conversation with Celeste, implying that he wants her to convince Digby (whom he thinks is behind the accusatory letters and could potentially testify against him in the investigation) to change his story, or else he would tarnish her reputation by falsely accusing her of adultery with Digby.
• Celeste refuses to cooperate with his plan and instead turns to Digby, who after meeting and spending some intimate moments, she realizes could indeed become her lover.