Prologue

Abstract

An aging figure stood in the doorway to the office. He was neatly dressed in his dark suit and hat. In fact, he was more than neat. He was natty, but in a slightly out of date fashion. He said nothing, but silently looked around as the business of the office continued, uninterrupted. Amid the clattering of typewriters, a young secretary glanced up from the sheaf of papers she was filing. She did not recognize him, though others had seen him before. After a few minutes, he departed, apparently satisfied with what he had observed. Later, the young woman would ask her co-workers, “Who was that old gentleman this morning?” One told her that she did not know his name, but that he used to work here. No, not just work. She thought actually that he had been the owner, or something like that. The young secretary shook her head, with just a touch of pity. Then she went back to work and did not give him another thought.