Chapter 2 Summary

A new German tenant, Elsa, has joined the group at the Villa Borghese. She makes breakfast for the group and plays melancholy songs that cause Henry to make love to her. He and Boris discuss Henry's book and name it The Last Book. Anybody with something to say in the book will be anonymous. They think it will be a book with an enormous impact on the world. Henry feels the book growing within him and becomes one with his typewriter, as he composes. He writes about Tania and Sylvester with suspicion about their motives and contempt for their false ways.

Another possible renter comes to look at the apartment while an Englishman practices piano. The possible renter is a rich, beautiful American woman, and Henry is contemptuous of her and her like. While Boris talks to the American, Henry fumes about his...