The emigrants alter their plans, choosing to stay in France during the spring before spending the summer in Switzerland. Adrian fears for the group of emigrants left behind in Paris, as the “prophet” and his ambition endangers all of his people. Lionel tries to save one of them, a woman from Windsor named Juliet, but he is taken prisoner by the “imposter.” Uncertain whether or not he will be killed, Lionel finally begins to fear death. When he thinks he is going to the gallows, Juliet saves him but refuses to go with him because the imposter has her daughter as a hostage.

The emigrants are superstitious and fearful as they leave for Switzerland. Even Adrian is changed: He cries to Lionel about his fears after a man in their group dies of the plague. Several people begin to catch the plague on the way to Geneva and Adrian’s group, which was the last to leave Versailles, does not catch up with Lionel’s group, which left first. People in Adrian’s group want to go back to Paris and join the cult of the imposter, and Adrian wants to go back and try to save as many people as possible.