Finally, the novel reveals the details of Mr. Pignati’s death, which it has only alluded to up to this point. The shock of Bobo’s death is the latest in a series of setbacks that have placed undue stress on Mr. Pignati’s mind and body. Unable to deal with the hurt of Conchetta’s death, John and Lorraine’s betrayal, and now the death of his “best friend,” Mr. Pignati’s body gives out, and he dies. With this, John and Lorraine learn a brutal, difficult lesson: their actions have consequences (though of course Mr. Pignati’s death is only an indirect consequence of their act of betrayal), some of which they’ll have to live with for the rest of their lives.