Chapter 1 Summary

Felipe Montero is sitting in a cafe when he notices an advertisement for someone with a background in history who is fluent in French. He remarks how perfectly he fits the profile—he studied history in France for years—and is especially attracted by the handsome salary the job pays. The advertisement makes no mention of a phone number; he will have to meet its author in person. He leaves a tip and goes on his way and forgets, momentarily, about the advertisement. He takes a crowded bus home.

He returns to the same cafe the next day and finds the same advertisement. After dispelling the discouraging thought that perhaps someone else has already taken the job, he decides to go. He travels down Donceles Street searching for the house number listed on the flier. He notes that the street seems...