In Penang, 1910, the atmosphere at the Tong Meng Hui reading club grows tense as Sun Wen prepares another insurrection. The group launches its newspaper, the Kwong Wah Yit Poh, in which Arthur publishes a fair article about Ethel Proudlock. Lesley visits Ethel in gaol and is shocked to find she has withdrawn her appeal, choosing instead to beg the Sultan of Selangor for a pardon, accepting that she will remain a convicted murderer rather than face court again.

Robert returns from KL with news that Sun Wen has been ordered deported by the governor for openly attacking British rule. At dawn at Swettenham Pier, Lesley joins Sun Wen's family and supporters as he sails for England and America, urging her to come to China when the republic is born. Lesley and Arthur grow closer; she notices a Maugham-inspired protective symbol newly carved on the doors of the House of Doors, which Arthur calls "our house."

After failed uprisings, the Wuchang rebellion ignites across China. Arthur announces he has volunteered to go to Canton, indefinitely. Lesley accuses him and all men of selfishness, warning that China will break his heart. Before he sails, she gives him a silver amulet of the protective symbol and asks him to play L'heure exquise on the guzheng. They part with no promise of letters; she returns his key.

The Sultan pardons Ethel on condition she leave Malaya forever. Ethel stays briefly with Lesley before departing, and in a chilling moment confesses that William made her kill William Steward, before retreating into denial. Lesley sees her off; Ethel disappears from her life. A leaf of doors painted with a hawk and a Japanese poem arrives at Lesley's home.

In January 1912, Robert announces the Ching dynasty has fallen and Sun Yat Sen is President. Lesley visits the celebrating reading club but realizes she no longer belongs. Walking past the shuttered House of Doors, she watches Chinese coolies having their queues cut off in a back alley and envies their chance to shed the old self and begin anew.