Missing that last puzzle piece-IV

My, my this chapter is something else. At first I didn't really understand Brett and Jake but upon Jake's return home I came to a interesting realization. Jake is missing his treasure trove, lost it in the war (cough the theme of this book). This is why Brett can't be with him, even if she loves him. One would think that since their love is true, as it's certainly not set on any physical lust, then why can't Brett get over Jake's...loss? Certainly a external conflict between the two.
Brett feels bad for her behavior/ unwillingness to leave her night life. saying that it's "my fault. Don't we pay for all the things we do?" (page 34). Jake shakes off Brett's apologies and makes it seem that he doesn't care that this women is toying with his emotions. Once Brett is gone he shows his real feelings on page 38 "to hell with Brett, to hell with Lady Ashely". Jake then flashes back to the war and the commander that said he had "given up more than his life" (page 39). Gah what a terrible way to introduce the rising action of this book (although this might only be the beginning's of Jake's problems we are only in chapter 4). but so far Jake is crying himself to sleep over a girl that won't love him (thanks to the war taking it away), his friend is whining that he can't go home with anyone but his overpowering fiance and to top it off Brett has hooked up with a man and invites Jake along! The guy of course is "one of [them]" (page 40) whatever that means.
From an outside view this guy's life is a joke. If you don't believe me think of how funny we thought the eunuch was in the satire Candide. Although I'm sure we could come up with a couple of amusing epithets for this guy, let us not forget that he's CRYING himself to sleep and allowing to let people walk all over him
Poor Bloke