Chapters 16, 17, 18 and 19 Summary

When Maria arrives for work the next night, Ralf is waiting for her as a customer, but Maria declines in deference to other customers and tells Ralf to return another time. Over the next few days, Maria finds herself consumed with thoughts of Ralf and wonders whether Ralf is falling in love with Maria or just wants a woman to reawaken some spark of passion in him again. In an attempt to balance herself, Maria writes a letter to her father telling him of her plans to return to Brazil and buy a farm where the whole family can live.

Ralf returns to the Copacabana a few days later and Maria tentatively accepts Ralf as a customer. Instead of taking Maria to a nearby hotel, Ralf hails a cab for the ride to Ralf's home. Maria is impressed by the large...