Wales has returned to Paris and immediately we see him in the

Ritz bar. This choice of venue makes us skeptical that Wales is totally
renouncing his former ways. He asks about old acquaintances and
most notably hands over his brother-in-laws address to the barman
to pass to Mr. Schaeffer. His surprise at the end of the story when
Schaeffer turns up there, having seen him in Paris and joined him at
the theater, is therefore not so believable.
ales is nervous when he reaches his in-laws house, signified by the
"cramping in his belly." There is a contrast in Honorias passionate
embrace of her father, and Marions "tepid" response. Their apartment
is warm and cheery: a nest of family life. Wales betrays his nerves as
he boasts about his income and his business success. This is not a
good way to win over the Peters they have always struggled as
Wales and his wife lived a decadent, frivolous life.
At Le Grand Vatel, Wales enjoys dining with Honoria. He does not
understand her rejection of him offering her anything she wants. He
forgets that she has grown up in a much more restrained household
that he and his wife ever provided, and that all Honoria really wants is
to spend time with her father, not his gifts. Unfortunately, the
impression is that this is the only way Wales is used to communicating
with his daughter, and he reverts back to this at the end of the story
when they cannot be together.
Wales cannot ascertain whether the sisters were close, but he is told
by Honoria that she likes Uncle Lincoln best. In Marions hands,
Honoria seems to be a bargaining tool to intensify Wales guilt. Marion
makes Wales feel guilty about everything; Helens death, his drinking
and their lack of wealth. She had a "curious disbelief in her sisters
happiness:" not understanding that Helen loved Wales and their
lifestyle probably as much as he did.