Chapter 20 Summary

Chapter twenty opens with Biagio recounting the stories he hears of the legend of his brother when he takes a year to travel. As far away as Paris, and from mouths as famous as Voltaire's himself, Biagio hears about the fascinating man in the trees. Usually keeping his connection with the legend to himself, in the presence of Voltaire, he cannot resist confessing that he is the man's brother. "Once it was only Nature which produced living phenomena," replies Voltaire. "Now 'tis Reason."

Biagio is called home, however, with the news that their mother's asthma has gotten much worse. This season reveals a sweet relationship development between the Generalessa and Cosimo when Biagio is surprised to observe that their mother asks Cosimo to fetch comforts for her that she knows he can harpoon from his tree and give to her. She is observably...