Summary

The shadow at Walser’s feet is Mignon, Lamarck’s wife, who has sought out her foolish savior. Her husband has beaten her and thrown her out after discovering her affair, and she runs to the man who was kind enough to save her life before. Walser is not sure where to take her at first, but he quickly makes a decision. He leads her to the main streets of town where the glittering lights cause her to stare in wonder. He takes her to the Hotel de l’Europe, but the doorman will not let them in: a clown and a bedraggled, bruised girl, overwhelmed by the luxury of the grand hotel and the fine people within.

Just as Walser is attempting to reach for his money in an attempt to bribe the doorman, Fevvers arrives and, handing the doorman complimentary tickets to the...