Part 3, Chapters 1-2 Summary

Franz is a university professor in Geneva, who visits his mistress, Sabina, after lectures. Franz, like Tomas has rules regarding his love life. He will not go from Sabina's bed to his wife's bed within the same day. He also does not want to have sex with Sabina in Geneva. Sex is an adventure away from Geneva and his wife. Franz creates speaking engagements and invents other reasons to travel and take Sabina with him. When Sabina tells Franz that she does not want to go to Palermo, he takes it to mean that she no longer desires him sexually. Although Franz is a good looking, strong, scholarly man, he is internally weak and insecure. Sabina is the initiator in their relationship. She takes the lead in their sexual liaisons.

Sabina begins a sexual game, more with herself than...