Chapter 16, 17 & 18 Summary

Lord Runcin comes to visit Joppolo to check on his progress. He is a respectable man who has snuff during the conversation and often uses expressions that Joppolo does not understand. Joppolo tells him about the progress in the town and "his Lordship" listens until he becomes too bored to concentrate. After that meeting, Quattrocchi barges in to complain about the destruction that Schultz and his two friends have done to his house. Joppolo calls the boys in to explain and rather than tell him about his inevitable departure, they make up a story about why they were there instead. As punishment, Joppolo tells the boys that the unhappiness of Quattrocchi is on their conscience and when they leave, all three remark how great a guy Joppolo is and how they feel like they broke their own mothers' possessions.

Joppolo continues to monitor...