In this chapter, the protagonist's speech is interrupted by the arrival of the president of China's ruling party, the People's Republic of China, who has just arrived in Hong Kong. He is accompanied by his wife, who is also a member of the Politburo, and by the president's wife, the first lady of the country. The first lady tells the protagonist that he is welcome to visit her, and the second lady tells him that she will visit him soon. The third lady asks the protagonist to tell her the truth about his affair with Madame Bovary. The protagonist says that he does not want anyone to hurt his wife's reputation, and that he respects and loves her.