Rooftoppers

After two days of heavy rain, a clear night sky beckons a restless Sophie back onto the roof. First, she cuts off the tips of her stockings, leaving her toes bare. She then sprints over the roofs to the law building, where Matteo helps her across the tightrope to his “home.” She cringes to see that he has been eating a roasted rat, but she nibbles at it to judge its taste, which is not good. It has been a bad week for food due to the rain, which not only keeps the birds away but also causes people to shut their windows, making it impossible for Matteo to steal produce from the windowsills. Sophie scolds herself for her thoughtlessness in not bringing him any food. Matteo mentions that he just ate a candy cane that “Anastasia and Safi” left near the opera building; startled, Sophie asks him who those girls are. Matteo changes the subject, asking if she has any food in her pockets. She manages to dig out some raisins and chocolate for him, and he smiles. Sophie sees that, on a nearly empty stomach, Matteo cannot muster the energy to take her exploring.