Zofloya and Victoria meet again, and she confides her desire for Henriquez and her frustration with her husband. Explaining that he is an expert in poisons, Zofloya gives Victoria a very slow-acting and imperceptible poison. Victoria is somewhat taken aback at the idea of murdering her husband, but Zofloya persuades her that she is justified in doing so. He argues that Berenza was wrong to have seduced her when she was very young and that Berenza is only going to suffer and be unhappy as he grows older anyway. Victoria takes the poison from him.

Victoria begins administering small doses of the poison to Berenza every day. She can tell that he is beginning to become ill, and she meets again with Zofloya, who gives her a second, stronger poison to continue administering. Victoria becomes worried about her crime being discovered and wants Berenza’s death to occur somewhere more secluded, where fewer questions will be asked. Victoria asks Berenza if they can go to stay at a remote castle he owns in the Apennine Mountains, and he happily agrees. Victoria, Berenza,