Chapter 21 Summary

Dickie receives a threatening letter from a police captain in Rome, demanding he return to Rome to assist in inquiries regarding the disappearance of Thomas Phelps Ripley. While he packs, Tom thinks of a plan. He will travel to Milan or Turin and buy a used car with high mileage in Tom Ripley's name. He can pretend he has been touring northern Italy by car for the past several months, sleeping in his auto. That will explain the lack of records for Tom Ripley.

Tom hates being Tom Ripley, a "nobody," who is incompetent, clownish, and good only for a few minutes of entertainment. He hates assuming his old habits and feeling people look down on him. Tom hates to lose Dickie's things. He mentally numerates the ones that do not have initials, which he can keep. Suddenly, Tom has an inspiration. He...