Summary

Chapter 23 (113-115)

Olga recognizes that the woman sitting at the desk is the poverella. The woman disappears, and Olga imagines for a moment that since the poverella was alive, she herself must be a girl again. She touches Otto, who is having spasms, and the poverella appears again in the corner of the room and tells Olga to go to Carrano because the dog is dying.

Chapter 24 (115-118)

Olga sets out to leave the apartment with an inner monologue that rambles between thoughts about slapping Illaria for using her makeup, the strength of her own will despite her griefs, and the sexual innuendos that the locksmiths had used. Going to open the lock she is unsuccessful, and she tries to convince herself that the locksmiths had not been telling the truth when they warned her not to jam it. She also resolves to...