Many years have passed since Irene left him and Soames has now decided that he wants a divorce. He's met an attractive young woman, Annette Lamotte, who with her mother runs a restaurant in Soho. He asks Young Jolyon, who is trustee of the legacy his father left her, to ask if she could provide him with grounds for divorce. She assures Jolyon that there has been no one in her life, a message he relays to Soames who refuses to believe it. He even visits Irene but unable to find grounds for divorce, he decides that he wants her back. All he manages to do is frighten her into fleeing to Paris. Val Dartie is disgusted by his drunken father, Montague Darty, who he sees cavorting with courtesans in a casino. Montague decides to abandon his family and leave for Buenos Aires. Soames insists that his sister Winnifred institute divorce proceedings. Val and Jolyon's daughter Holly strike up a close friendship. When they agree to marry, Holly's brother Jolly intervenes challenging him to join the army and go to South Africa.