|
Babbitt drives to City Prison, but the attendant tells him Paul is refusing visitors. He rushes to City Hall, and by reminding Mayor Prout of his campaign work, obtains an order forcing Paul to see him.
Riesling had first refused the visit fearing that Babbitt would be \"moral\" and disapproving. But when Babbitt says instead that Zilla got what was coming to her, Paul defends his wife. Now--too late--Paul sees that Zilla didn\'t have an easy time of it either. To cheer up his friend (and himself), Babbitt rambles on about making another trip to Maine, about helping Paul establish a new life for himself out West.
Babbitt goes to the City Hospital, where he learns that Zilla will live. At home Mrs. Babbitt is (in Lewis\'s cynical but perceptive phrase) \"radiant with the horrified interest we have in the tragedies of our friends.\" Mrs. Babbitt offers moralistic opinions about Paul\'s crime, but Babbitt is too dazed to respond.
After dinner he visits Paul\'s lawyer and offers to lie if it will save his friend. He\'s lied to succeed in business, he says; he can lie to save Paul. For the first time, Babbitt has admitted out loud that his world is a dishonest one. The admission is a sign of his friendship for Paul, but also a sign of his growing desperation.
Babbitt summons up enough courage to go to the Athletic Club the next day. Fortunately, his friends are sensitive enough to avoid discussing Paul\'s crime. Paul pleads guilty and is sentenced to three years in the state penitentiary.
Babbitt\'s friendship with Paul was the relationship he most valued. Now it\'s gone. Paul has acted on his feelings of desperation--feelings that Babbitt to some extent shares. The question is, Will Babbitt act on his feelings too? Certainly his despair is deepening; he realizes that he faces \"a world which, without Paul, [is] meaningless.\"
|
