Part 3: Chapters 18-20 Summary

Part 3 opens several years later, in the mid-1530s. Fiammetta is now a well-established courtesan in her mid-twenties; the soap merchant stopped visiting her some time ago, but set her up in comfortable surroundings before he left. Here, she entertains a variety of guests, some with extremely high connections. The situation she is in at the moment resembles her Roman life, before the invasions. However, Bucino is not quite as content. He is out of sorts, even when he sees his old business acquaintance, the Jewish trader, has converted to Christianity.

In Chapter 19, Bucino describes his job and role in Fiammetta's household. In short, he acts as a business manager, keeping her books, dealing with payments, and running the household. He does not seem content doing this, though, as he has a short fuse and is often ill-tempered with...