The Master

Henry travels to Rome and discovers that his relationship with the city has changed in the decades since he first explored it as a young man. These days, he is not quite as free as he was, and he has more memories to weigh him down. Still, Rome is beautiful, and he is happy to be back. He spends some time with various friends who, like him, are equally at home in Europe and in the United States but often prefer Europe. Conscious of his age, he initially tries not to reminisce too much about the “Old Rome” of his youth, but gradually, among his friends, he detects a similar air of nostalgia and opens up a bit more. As he does, he finds that many among his social set share his affection for a bygone era. He meets a sculptor named Henrik Andersen, to whom he is instantly drawn. Andersen is largely unaware of his own physical attractiveness, and Henry appreciates him quietly. The two make plans to take a walk through a graveyard. Because this is where Constance is buried, Henry grows emotional, and Andersen quietly hugs him. Henry wishes that their embrace could last longer, but he knows that it cannot.