Part 1, Section 2, "Navel of the Moon" Summary

A couple of young, attractive social climbers, Pichi and Junior, are on the way to a party given by Bobo, whose gatherings are carefully designed to mix the old aristocrats, the nouveau riche, artists and intellectuals, and the stylish young crowd. All the major characters appear in rapid succession, and Ixca observes them all with a critical and knowing eye. In such a hot, polluted and filthy city, no one can avoid stinking a little, but these people make their stink elegant, he reflects.

Zamacona, a poet, lectures to the younger, eager crowd of writers on the need for keeping art free of political clichys. Federico Robles, the banker, is meanwhile ruthlessly pushing his business interests forward by refusing to hear the case of an injured worker. Roberto Regules, a lawyer...