Adieu
- As Lester continues to beat the drum, Despereaux is led in front of the council and turned over to two big mice wearing black pieces of cloth over their head. They tell him that he's going to be escorted to the dungeons.
- That's when Despereaux hears his mother calling out to him. He turns around and sees Antoinette with lots of make-up on. She wants to know what will happen to her baby boy.
- The mice with black cloths over their heads keep telling her that she does not want to know the answer.
- Finally, they give in and tell her the truth—Despereaux is being sent to the dungeons, where the rats will eat him.
- Antoinette faints right away. Instead of halting the proceedings, the mice begin to lead Despereaux toward the dungeons.
- As Despereaux is led away, his mother wakes up from her fainting spell and calls out one word: "Adieu"—which means "farewell" in French. That's not a comforting thing for Despereaux to hear.