Undine can no longer allow her husband to have so much authority over her. She is determined to find a way to prove to him that she still knows how to get what she wants. While Raymond is away, Undine travels to Paris under the pretext of finding a new nursemaid for her son. While in the city, she pursues the first details of her scheme. When she returns home, she waits for Raymond to again be gone. Then while her mother-in-law takes her long afternoon nap, Undine waits in the gallery, with its long view of the roadway to the house. Finally she sees a black car and anticipates her visitor.

An older man exits the car and enters the Chelles house. When Undine escorts the man down the hallway, she begins to describe the history of the paintings and tapestries that are hung in the hallway. The man interrupts her, telling her that the descriptions and other memorable details of the works have all been catalogued and are well known to every important collector.

The man then looks at his watch and announces that a prospective collector, an American who is intent on buying old European heirlooms, should soon be arriving. To this, Undine protests. She has no right to sell any of the Chelleses’ belongings, she claims. She only wanted to know their worth. Although she does not confide her real purposes, Undine believes if she can tell Raymond how much the old tapestries are worth, he will better understand how he can accrue the money he needs to maintain the estate. This will allow more money in the budget for Undine and Raymond to continue their spring jaunts in Paris. However, the man says the American collector has only this one day to see the collection, so he has taken the liberty of inviting the man to the Chelles estate. Another car then arrives. When the American enters the house, Undine is surprised to see it is Elmer Moffatt.

Moffatt is as surprised as Undine is. He thought she was living in Paris. He comments on the social scene in the city and wonders why Undine is not there. After Undine tells her story, Moffatt says that it seems strange she has settled down to a country life. He adds that he hopes this is what she wanted. As he looks around, Moffatt comments that the estate is a great place to live. Undine counters this by saying it might be nice if she did not have to spend so much time there. Undine then explains that Raymond does not have enough money for her to go to Paris. Moffatt looks up at the walls of the gallery and says there are many trips to Paris hanging right there. All Raymond has to do is sell the tapestries.

In time, Moffatt tells his story. His speculative investments have brought him wealth and power: he now owns much of Apex, has developed power in Congress, and spends his extra money on buying pretty things. He concludes his story by stating that he intends to have the best of everything. He adds that this is what he thought Undine wanted.