In the middle of his lecture, the young man realizes that he is not with the others. He is still considered as a friend by the others, and he does not want to argue about this. He tells the others that they are both trapped in the "network of relationships." He asks them if they would still think of him as their friend if there were no such thing as "inconstancy." They both agree that if it were not for the implications of the situation, they would not have been friends for so long. The young man asks the others to take him as far as he can based on his money.