A postgraduate student writing a thesis on the French writer Paul Michel starts a relationship with the Germanist, a girl he meets in the library, at Cambridge University.

Michel manages to trick the restaurant into believing they are with the town mayor and thus get off without being reported for the fight.

Paul Michel is later granted two months away from the madhouse since the protagonist's visits have improved his condition considerably.

Eventually, Michel gets up one night, takes the car and he kills himself, under the influence of drugs and alcohol.

His relationship with the Germanist, who flew to France to help him after the accident and got him through the funeral, ends after that, even though they move in similar academic circles.