At last, Laurent follows through with his plan to kill Camille. The struggle that takes place before he tosses Camille into the water is a striking scene, as Laurent’s crazed expression sheds light on his darkest characteristics. Suddenly, he goes from acting like Camille’s friend to acting like a senseless murderer. Until this point, the novel has almost invited readers to root for Laurent and Thérèse; after all, it’s not as if Camille is the most likable person. But now readers are forced to recognize the raw intensity of Laurent’s violent behavior, which emphases just how cruel and cold-hearted it is to murder another person— regardless of the circumstances.