Subject: Summary #3, XVII & XVIII
Author: Robin N (166.90.70.107)
Date: 07-13-1999 22:26
XVII
Aimee pays Pedro Noel a visit in order to find out when Juan is
returning. He’s surprised by her visit because he doesn’t know her.
She cooks up a story that she paid Juan to buy perfumes (English at
that!) and wedding gifts for herself and Renato. This amazes Noel
even more. However, because of circumstances, Noel thinks that it’s
unlikely that Juan can return without fear of imprisonment. He
advises her to forget about Juan returning with her commission and
she asks him to forget about her visit.
Meanwhile, back at Campo Real, Sofia is pressuring Renato to go get
Aimee and get things underway. It’s bad for a man to give in to a
woman. She does worry, though about Aimee’s character. “She seems a
little restless.” On the other hand, she speaks highly of Monica,
“seems an excellent person.” Renato agrees, but worries about ehr
nerves. Sofia wants to know the source of this trouble and he tells
her about his friendship with Monica and her sudden desire to become
a nun ever since she learned about his intentions toward Aimee.
Never mind, Aimee will be like a queen here at CR. But Aimee wants
to live in Saint-Pierre, I promised her, Renato tells his mother.
She’ll be bored here. Sofia isn’t buying this. She chastises Renato
for trying to please Aimee too much and he concedes this point to
mama.
Aimee, on the beach, is desolate that Juan is unlikely to return.
Monica approaches and Aimee hides her tears, not wanting to be seen
humilliated by Juan. Monica tells her that Renato’s waiting for her
at the house.
Renato wants to bring Aimee back to CR to get married. She puts him
off telling him that Monica is so highstrung, so strange these
days... it’s not a good idea. Monica comes in and says, “I heard
you, I heard everything you said.” Covering, Aimee says, “Don’t
misunderstand me...” “It’s as clear as the light of day: you hope
that I’ll go back to the convent and not stand up at your wedding.”
Monica stays her course. Renato smooths things over. Monica tells
Aimee that she’s going to take a long time to decide if she’ll go
back to the convent--if ever--and so she’s available. She leaves and
Aimee is mad. “It’s not possible to trust crazy people (referring to
Monica!)” she says and leaves. Aimee sees Monica in the garden and
calls to her. She was hoping to speak to Aimee. She tells her that
when she believes that Aimee will love and care for Renato as he
deserves, she will return to the convent. Renato draws close and
Monica tells him that she’s just giving Aimee a little sisterly
‘advice.’
XVIII
Juan is on board the Luzbel and tells Colibri, the young former
slave, that soon he will have a new mistress. Colibri tells Juan
that he’s changed a lot, as if he’d drunk one of the herbal potions
they sell in Haiti--like the ones that make people like the dead or
steal the soul. He laughs and says that he’s alive and also very
rich. He tells of his plans to build a home on the Cabo del Diablo
and to repay his debt to Renato.
At CR, they’re admiring the trousseau linens bought for Aimee.
Monica tells Aimee to leave things for her to put away and go spend
some time with Renato. He wonders why she looks so almost-worried.
He wonders is he should be jealous. “How crazy you are, Renato!
Jealous of whom?” Aimee pretends to be happy. Renato sees Bautista
in the distance (now the plantation administrator) and this gets him
speaking of the poor conditions his workers live in... but he
realizes he’s boring her. She asks him about the condition of the
house in Saint-Pierre and he tells her that it’s going to need some
work so they’ll stay at CR until it’s ready. This annoys Aimee
greatly so when she sees Monica, she spitefully tells him that he
can go talk the ‘plight of the cane workers’ over with her. And so
he does. She offers to help and he gratefully gives it.