With this chapter we move into the romantic drama proper that closes the novel. Nostromo, having established the Violas on the Great Isabel, comes to propose marriage to Giselle instead of his expected wife Linda, but at the last second hesitates to do anything unusual that might cost him access to the island and his hidden silver. Thus he finds himself engaged to Linda against his wishes. Left alone with Giselle, he proclaims his true love for her, and promises to elope with her as soon as he has grown rich.

Allegorically, Linda as the light-keeper represents private property and the established society of laws and duty. Her language of love is entirely based on themes of ownership and control. In contrast, Giselle displays an utter pacifism, a non-possessive, all-accepting love, and a total carelessness regarding issues of property. Nostromo's revelation that he is a thief makes no difference whatsoever to her; she expresses neither moral indignation nor monetary excitement, but merely wishes to be with him. She thus represents the ultimate dream-ideal in this novel of conquering dream-ideals: a society without conquest and property, a harmonious utopia of love. For the People, caught between the oppressive society they reject and the "bloodthirsty" opposition they dislike, the utopian ideal represents the last resting place for their baffled integrity of soul. Their dilemma is that, to achieve the utopia, they must "grow rich slowly"; they must continue their sham engagement to the lawful society so that they can be a thief within it. The utopia must wait...and at the end of the chapter we leave the People torn unhappily between the ideal of love and the spell of wealth.