Chapter 5 Summary

Chapter five opens with a return to the briefly introduced Sinforosa. She is revealed as a little girl from the villas who rode a white horse and commanded and protected the little band of boys. She told them where the ripe fruit was, and blew a horn around her neck when they were going to be discovered. She betrayed the boys, however, turning two of her favorites against her when she revealed them to her servants to be beaten. Upon asking, his suspicion that this mysterious and treacherous creature is his friend from the swing, Viola, is confirmed, and Cosimo determines that the best course is to perform some feat of daring that might reach her ears indirectly.

Meanwhile, his father's dismay continues to grow to the point that he scolds the Abbe for not yet having exorcised his obviously demon-possessed son. His...