Christmas Eve, 1904. Inspector Antoine Jouin attempts to identify a corpse found in the Bois de Boulogne as orders are given to round up the city's prostitutes.

Lépine asks Jouin to remain discreet in his report of a death to avoid a scandal. Marguerite Steinheil prepares for the opening of a new collection of her husband's work, to which she has invited Lépine.

Marguerite discovers that Adolphe has syphilis, Jouin identifies the body in the Bois de Boulogne, and Cochefert reveals that the dead man is linked to an unsolved murder.

Louise Lépine finds an unlikely ally in her attempts to persuade her father to postpone his retirement, Jouin and Cochefert hear testimony from the mother of Paul Cetinet, and Fiersi, now a free agent, talks to one of the maids at Château de Bagatelle.

Armed with information provided by Dr Socquet, Cochefert makes an eventful visit to Dr Verlot. Lépine asks his daughter to invite L'abbé Gardey to supper to provide moral support, and Jouin and Fiersi join forces to break into the Château de Bagatelle.