Sections 22-23, pages 283- 322 Summary

The next two sections switch between the lives of the noble court of Portugal (King Joao and his children, the Infanta's), and that of the simpler lives of Baltasar and Blimunda in Mafra.

The first section begins with the procession of the Infanta, the Princess Dona Maria to Northern Spain to be wed to a Prince of that realm. The Procession of the Dona is a grand affair with many fine carriages each carrying wardrobes, retainers, gifts and stewards as it progresses past Mafra and on to the neighbour's realm. Whilst on that journey we discover that Joao Elvas, the one time pimp and vagrant whom had befriended Baltasar when he first came to Lisbon is now a worker for the procession of the Princess.

Joao Elvas had been hiding in the surrounding countryside of Lisbon, avoiding...