The man had started to read the novel a few days before, but stopped. He had put it down because of some urgent business conferences, but he opened it again on his way back to his large estate by train. He became slowly interested in the plot and in the characters. That afternoon, after writing a letter to his lawyer giving joint ownership of all his property to his wife, he returned home. He began to read the book again in the tranquility of his study, which had a large window that look out upon the park with its oak trees. Sitting in his favorite armchair, its back toward the door, he caressed the green velvet upholstery of chair and started to read the final chapters.