Part 2: Chapters 16-17 Summary

In Chapter 16, Bucino is surprised to be confronted by La Draga, who questions him, wanting to know why he so dislikes her. Unable to give her an answer, he goes to aid his mistress with her preparations for the evening. Dressed in her finest (which is still, at this point, mostly second-hand), Fiammetta boards a gondola with Bucino, who will accompany her to Pietro's home that evening for a small party. At this party, she will choose her new patron. As she disembarks, Pietro describes his guests to her: a soap merchant, a French diplomat who is most likely diseased, a Turkish diplomat, and a painter (who is happily married and not among the potential patrons).

For most of the evening, Bucino stays out of the way. However, as the group begins to play a game about beauty, she...