Dante Wentworth, having intercepted an invitation addressed to his father, Kenneth Wentworth, recognizes the handwriting as Anna Matheson’s and decides to attend in his father’s place. He reflects on his habit of arriving uninvited and on his family’s ownership of the Philadelphia Phoenix, which once belonged to Arthur Matheson. Dante has little interest in trains and views them as obsolete, but he is intrigued by the sender and the promise of “unfinished business.”

As he prepares to go to the lounge, Dante rehearses how to greet Anna, revealing a personal connection and his desire for a measured, meaningful reunion. He expects to surprise her because she would be anticipating his father. He notes there are at least five other passengers aboard in addition to a suspicious conductor.

Entering the first-class lounge, Dante observes Judd Dodge, Herb Pulaski, Sally Lawrence, Edith Gerhardt, and Lt. Col. Jack Lapsford deep in discussion. He recognizes all of them from the shared past involving the Mathesons and senses that Anna has engineered their presence together. The others, who had been debating the purpose of the gathering, turn to Dante when he speaks up.

Prompted by Sally Lawrence and Jack Lapsford, Dante declares that he knows who brought them there. While playing the piano, he announces that the event is the work of someone none of them expected to see again. Though he does not say the name aloud to them, the narration confirms Dante believes Anna Matheson is behind the invitations and that his presence will shock her, as she expected Kenneth Wentworth.

Dante privately anticipates the encounter with Anna, unlike the others, and warns by implication that the reunion will not be pleasant for the group. The scene ends with his confident assertion that Anna has orchestrated the trip, setting up a confrontation tied to their shared history from twelve years earlier.