The Nightingale: Chapter 13 Summary & Analysis

It is now April of 1941, and the weather has greatly improved. Isabelle is outside, lying in a field near Vianne’s home. Vianne walks up to Isabelle and gives her a note from Henri, which reads, “the curtains are open.” Isabelle recognizes the message as a summons from Henri. Isabelle gets up and heads into town, eventually making it to Henri’s hideout.

Once there, Henri tells Isabelle that he has a mission for her. He wants her to take a letter and deliver it to a resistance figure in Paris. After she arrives, Henri wants her to stay in Paris and act as a point of contact for the resistance. He tells Isabelle that this will be a dangerous mission and that she will have to lie to everyone she holds dear, including Sophie and Vianne.

Isabelle is hesitant. Although she wants to help the resistance, she knows that the only way she can stay in Paris is if she lives with Julien Rossignol. She knows that Julien will try to send her away as soon as she arrives. Isabelle expresses this concern to Henri, who tells her that she must convince her father to let her stay. That is the only way this plan works. After giving it some thought, Isabelle agrees to deliver the message and act as a point of contact for the resistance.

In the meantime, Vianne is at home, thinking about the note she gave to Isabelle. She assumes the note is from a boy with whom Isabelle is carrying on some sort of secret romance. This thought angers Vianne. If true, then Isabelle is putting her own life, as well as the lives of others, in danger for a silly teenage romance. Vianne thinks Isabelle needs to grow up and accept the fact that her actions have consequences. 

As Vianne thinks about what to do with Isabelle, Beck shows up with a group of German soldiers. Together, they begin destroying the stone wall around Vianne’s house. Beck explains to Vianne that he is only following orders. Vianne can tell that it pains him to destroy the wall. Later, Isabelle arrives home and asks Beck about why he destroyed the wall. Beck explains that the Germans want to be able to see into the house whenever they desire so they can keep an eye out for whoever has been delivering anti-German propaganda.

In the middle of her conversation with Beck, Isabelle informs him that she wants to go to Paris to live with Julien Rossignol. She lies and says that he is sick and needs someone to care for him. She then asks Beck if he will give her a pass so that she can take the train to go to her father. Beck promises to get her one. Later, when Beck is gone, Vianne asks Isabelle about their father’s health. Isabelle admits to lying but then tells another lie. She claims that she’s been sneaking out to see a boy who is now going to Paris. She tells Vianne that she wants to go to Paris to be with this boy. Vianne immediately believes Isabelle because the story matches what she has thought all along. Isabelle is disappointed that her sister thinks so little of her.