Part 1, Chapter 1 Summary

As the story begins, we are introduced to two friends. Spiros Antonapoulous is an overweight Greek with a round face and dreamy eyes. He always seems to wear a stupid smile. The other man is John Singer, a tall man with an intelligent face. He always dresses conservatively and is very clean and neat. They are opposites in every way except they are both mute.

The Greek man works for his cousin in a fruit store, and his job is to uncrate the fruit and make candy. Singer works as a silverware engraver. Each morning they leave their boardinghouse and walk to their jobs together. They are only apart when they are at work. They live together, and Spiro does all the cooking while Singer cleans. This arrangement has lasted for ten years.

Their friendship and living arrangement continues until Spiro...