Anatasio Cordero arrives unexpectedly in a confined physical environment: the home of a Lima bourgeois family member, which he is entrusted with guarding. The protagonist's disorientation and unease with the mansion's comfort give rise to a series of situations.
Betty Bryant is an ambitious newspaper reporter in love with Dan Barton, a member of a big-city Emergency Squad who are trained to deal with riots, cave-in, explosions, fires and other emergencies where lives are at stake.
Benchley, in his own unique way, starts to drive his wife crazy. First he waits until just as she is serving dinner before he goes to wash his hands and shave.
In 1830 Pierre Courier, a rich and elderly shipowner, awaits the return of his son Stefano, who has just returned from a long trip to Trinidad in the ship in which he is captain.