Chapter 17 Summary

Arturo finishes and revises his novel about Vera Rivken with ease and submits it to Hackmuth, praying fervently for a miracle. When he receives a telegram that a contract for the book is on its way, Arturo feels his life is over because he is happy enough to die.

The contract arrives with five hundred dollars. Arturo feels so rich he could retire for life. He goes to Camilla to tell her the news but she bedridden, gaunt and broken, wanting to die. Arturo goes out and buys a large supply of groceries and gets her to drink milk, but she vomits. He goes out to buy her a new nightgown and something to read and returns to a locked door. When he tries to get in, she shrieks that he is not her friend, and the other residents threaten to throw him...