This chapter opens with a flashback to the beginning of the novel, when Nemo and Nemo's son, Nemo Jr., had received a letter from his father saying that Nemo would be returning to school if he could repay him with a loan. The flashback shows that Nemo had expected to be rejected by his father, and that Nemo was worried that he would not be able to repay him in full. Nemo, however, was able to convince his father to accept the loan.