The students meet on the kapia. Among them is Janko Stiković, a “good speaker and fiery debater” (237) who writes political screeds under a pen name; Velimir Stevanović, a “healthy, well-built” (237) medical student; Jacov Herak, the son of a postman; Ranko Mihailović, a law student who hopes to be a civil servant; Nikola Glasičanin, the grandson of Milan Glasičanin, whose family has fallen on hard times; Vlado Marić, a merry locksmith with a renowned singing voice; and Zorka and Zagorka, the two local schoolmistresses, whose attentions are sought by all the students.

Stiković and Zorka meet in secret, both “embarrassed and awkward” (239). That night, he and the other students meet on the kapia. The memory of the awkward meeting clouds his mind and hinders his arguments. Eventually, he finds himself left alone with Glasičanin; though familiar with one another, they are both unsure whether they are actually friends. Now, Stiković’s romance with Zorka has “come between them” (241). Before they can depart, Toma Galus and Fehim Bahtijarević approach across the bridge. Though younger, Galus is a scholarly rival to Stiković while Bahtijarević is a quiet reserved man. They discuss Bahtijarević’s studies, then the plaque on the bridge dedicated to Mehmed Pasha, then leave.