Chapter 4 Summary

After Merry disappears, a disguised student named Rita Cohen, Merry's revolution mentor, visits the worried, tormented Swede at his glove factory. Swede, knowing she is somehow connected with Merry, goes along with her cover, and explains everything about glovemaking to her. Detailing every small step to Rita, from beginning to end of the process, Swede is obviously reviewing it all in his own mind and enjoying having some brief time off from thinking about the bombing and, perhaps, too, trying to justify his business to Rita. In a strange way he seems to feel kindly toward her, simply knowing she is close to Merry. He has a pair of gloves made for her.

In his office, Rita lets down her facade and tells him Merry wants her Audrey Hepburn scrapbook. Taking a roundabout route as Rita directs, a week later, Swede delivers other...