The opening of the novel presents Vincent as he travels to a wedding, contemplating his life and his role as a "groom's man." He feels trapped between his honor and the monotony of social obligations. While he admires his friend Robert's bold commitment to love, he struggles with his own ambivalence towards romance and marriage. His internal conflict deepens as he is introduced to Gilberte Méricourt, the sister of the bride. Vincent becomes increasingly drawn to her beauty and youthful spirit, which stirs emotions he has suppressed due to his lingering attachment to his former lover, Sabine. This juxtaposition of past and present relationships sets a tone of anticipation and potential heartache, hinting at possible complications in Vincent's emotional journey ahead. (This is an automatically generated summary.)