In this short scene, the Underground Man and his friend, the artist marsh, discuss the recent events in England. The Underground Man tells his friend that he has not yet visited the factory where he works, and that he feels that he is not welcome in the city. He asks the artist to come out with him for a walk. He tells the artist that he does not want to be a part of the city's social life, but that in Shuheshan, he can "fully become myself." The two men discuss their experiments, which they have conducted on various plants, and the noises they make on their instruments. They discuss the possibility of a fire at the factory, and they decide to send the artist back to England.