Chapter 4, "Sleepwalking" Summary

In chapter four, Berendt begins to describe to the reader the everyday occurrences in the city of Venice. He describes how the butcher takes a delivery of meat, how Giorgio sets up the trattoria, and how the fruit and vegetable dealer starts out on his route. When Berendt himself sets out for his morning walk, he encounters the Plant Man. Berendt describes his look as a moving shrub, but shortly thereafter, the Plant Man appears as a short man with wiry gray hair.

The Plant Man is standing out in the open selling plants to passersby when Berendt strikes up a conversation with him. The Plant Man introduces himself as Adriano Delon and tells Berendt that he comes to Venice every day of the week except for Sundays, when Adriano and his wife go ballroom dancing, which is televised...