Bernard is pacing and reading aloud from lecture notes about his theory about the deadly Byron-Chater duel. Valentine, Chloe, and Gus are his audience. Hannah tries to interrupt to show Valentine a copy of Peacock’s letter from the India Office Library. Bernard continues his lecture, describing Septimus as the connection between the two families.

Hannah and Valentine challenge some of his claims and assumptions, while Chloe is more sympathetic. Hannah points out all the inconsistencies and omitted facts. Hannah and Bernard fight. She calls him arrogant, greedy, and reckless. He insults her book as a “novelette.”

Valentine ran some computer models that suggest the reviews are not a good fit with Byron’s known reviews. Valentine and Bernard quibble over the different meanings of the word “trivial” to a scientist and to a historian. Valentine argues that who discovered it first is not as important as the discovery and progress itself. Bernard dismisses the idea of progress, favoring philosophy and poetry.

Frustrated, Valentine says he has given up on his study of grouse because there is too much noise. Valentine leaves. Chloe tearfully beats on Bernard before leaving. Gus runs to follow her.

Bernard tells Hannah her dust jacket does not actually have a Fuseli ink study of Byron and Caroline Lamb on it.