Intrigued by Risley, Maurice decides to visit him. However, when he goes to Risley’s room, a man named Clive Durham answers, explaining that Risley is out. The two chat about their musical preferences as Durham searches for a piece of music he’s come to borrow.

Maurice eventually leaves, but Durham catches up with him as he returns to his own campus. He helps Durham carry his piano rolls to the room of a classmate who owns a pianola and listens to Durham play a few favorite pieces. Durham and the classmate—Fetherstonhaugh—also discuss Sophocles, which both impresses and intimidates Maurice: “Fetherstonhaugh was a great person, both in brain and brawn, and had a trenchant and copious manner. But Durham listened unmoved, shook out the falsities and approved the rest. What hope for Maurice who was nothing but falsities?” (39).

In his discomfort, Maurice abruptly stands and leaves. However, he pauses in the courtyard outside, and calls out to Durham when he sees him leaving, awkwardly asking if he’d like tea. Durham declines, but offers Maurice a glass of whiskey. After finishing this, Maurice resumes his pacing before finally retiring to bed. He spends the next days and weeks carefully establishing a friendship with Durham.