Chapter 2: Tacuari Summary

Ella and Franco leave for Buenos Ayres in November. They are returning to Franco's home country of Paraguay with all of their possessions in a huge steamer ship. Marie, the maid, also follows with Dona Ines, Ella's Spanish instructor. Dona repeats stories about her father in the Spanish Army. The Atlantic crossing is to take three weeks. Ella is sick most of the time, and Franco is nervous because he doesn't like water. Ella and Franco have separate rooms, but they have sexual relations throughout the voyage. Ella has taken along her horse, which she names Mathilde after her friend.

Franco is very virile and masturbates to help himself stay in control around Ella. His father, Don Carlos Antonio Lopez, is the president of Paraguay, but his mother's side has the money in the family. He is the oldest of his...