Chapter 9 Summary

The ninth chapter describes Cosimo's quest to make and learn from relationships with the people living immediately below him. He makes himself as helpful and friendly as possible, giving them his perspective on projects they are doing, and listening intently to their stories, learning new languages and putting them as much at ease with his peculiar presence as he can.

For the Baron's part, in spite of whatever improvement has been made in his own relationship with his eldest son, the desire to hide Cosimo's lifestyle from the world is still strong This means that when a particular important family visits the family home on their way to France, the Baron tried to keep their attention as far from his eldest son as possible. His plan is, of course, foiled when Cosimo strolls casually up on a tree in the back yard, dressed...