A man in Genoa becomes consumed by the image of a beautiful unknown woman after prolonged solitude and ten years without love, and his obsession governs several days of feverish meditation and emotional unrest. The narrative follows his inward turmoil and the persistence of desire while rendering the city's streets and social milieus as the backdrop for private passion. A prefatory essay defends grounding stories in familiar local settings and offers sharp criticism of contemporary literary habits, blending intimate psychological portraiture with commentary on the production and reception of literature.