Subject: Summary #1: pages 1-50
Author: Anna Rosa (38.14.56.58)
Date: 07-09-1999 07:51
Twelve- year old Juan Del Diablo has been sent by his “father”
Andres Bertolozi to deliver a letter to Francisco D’Autremont.
Tonight he and his friend and lawyer, Pedro Noel are in Saint
Pierre, the capital city of Martinique . He presents the letter but
D’Autrement refuses to acknowledge he knows who Bertolozi is and
won’t go with Juan. After the boy leaves, Noel recalls a scandal
years ago when Mrs. Bertolozi ran away from home and her husband
went crazy. He was disgraced and never found the culprit. They
decided to go see Bertolozi.
When Juan returns home he finds Bertolozi on his death bed. He’s
furious that D’Autremont wouldn’t come. He tells Juan that
D'Autremont is his father, to tell everyone he’s caused him to be
disgraced and to kill him. Bertolozi dies. Noel and Francisco arrive
too late, but decide to read the letter “…he’s paid him back for all
the evil he’s done by raising Juan to be a savage, never baptized,
almost not human. He’s your son just look at him.” Francisco can
hardly believe it but finds Juan hiding under the table and takes
him with him. They go to Campo Real, D’Autremont’s plantation. His
son Renato greets his father warmly, his wife Sofia wonders why he’s
back early . He introduces Juan as a new playmate for Renato. Sofia
is instantly suspicisious . She questions him about the boy’s
origins, but Francisco says he’s the son of someone he jilted and
who has died. Renato is thrilled with the idea of having a playmate.
Sofia, however, is furious and that night argues violently with her
husband. Renato thinks his father is going to hit his mother and
tries to stop him.
The next day Noel cannot locate Francisco and tells Sofia he’s going
out to find him. A search party finds the lifeless body of
D'Autremont who apparently suffered a riding accident. He dies
shortly after and his last words are to Renato to take care of Juan
always and treat him like a brother. Juan is very upset by the
death. He had sworn to hate him, but D’A had been the only person
ever to be kind to him and he was his father. Sofia sends him away.
She also insults Noel by asking him to return all of her husband’s
documents. The next morning Juan sneaks out and Renato follows him
with his savings,He wants to go with Juan who is planning to sail
far away. Bautista, newly appointed plantation Administrator and a
trusted employee of Sofia’s is out looking for Renato . Juan takes
off with the money. Bautista tells Noel that Juan stole it, but
Sofia says to let him go. That night Renato develops a fever and
remains seriously ill for a long time.
Some time later Sofia is sending Renato to France to study. The
governor’s cousin Catalina Molnar, who’s own two daughter’s Aimee
and Monica are going to study in France, will take Renato with her.
Sofia goes to see Noel to ask him if he’s seen Juan. He tells her
she should be relieved because he heard Juan had left on a boat for
Jamaica.
As Renato’s boat pulls away, he says “Don’t worry father, I will
return and look for Juan.”