on a day his wife is busy hosting a birthday party for their son, desvallées pays pégala a visit. at first he tells the confused writer jovially that he and his wife have an open marriage and sits and talks pleasantly with him. he asks for a tour of the small flat. on seeing the bed his demeanour changes, as he pictures his wife there. he spots a giant cigarette lighter at the bedside. this had been a 3rd anniversary present to his wife from him. he starts to feel unwell and suddenly grabs a stone bust and kills pégala with a violent blow to the head.