Part 5 (Pages 344-388) Summary

Francis has been at Dusterstein for a week and is preparing his first report to send to Sir Owen Williams-Owen. The countess and her daughter Amalie welcome Saraceni and Francis at dinner, and afterwards, Francis is expected to talk with Ruth Nibsmith, the governess, while Saraceni talks with the countess. When Francis begins his work with Saraceni, he is told to call him Meister and that Saraceni will call him Corniche. From September to mid-December, he is given menial jobs to do which include grinding minerals to a powder and mixing them with various oils. He is learning to make the true colors used by the Old Masters.

One day, Saraceni announces that he is going to visit his apartment before Christmas, so their work must wait. Francis asks him what they are doing there. He doesn't want to...