Long ago, Jacob lost his bet to sell bibles in Chile; those forgotten books remain under his bed. Jacob stays in Chile because of his unrequited love for Rose and his basic mastery of Spanish. He spends his time reading and discussing philosophy with intellectuals at a Valparaíso bookstore. Jacob meets 18-year-old Joaquín Andieta, the youngest of this group of debaters. The impoverished Joaquín is a natural leader with an electric personality. With “Andalucian features and the virile grace of a young toreador” (60), Joaquín has the courage to transform ideas into revolutionary action. Jacob imagines an ideal Utopian society, but Joaquín counters with hard realism about the need to organize workers in the present. The pathetic aspect of the poverty-stricken Joaquín draws Jacob to him “like an abyss” (59). He learns that Joaquín works at the British Import and Export Company, Ltd., for a meager salary and lives with his mother. Joaquín proudly refuses any of Jacob’s attempts to help him with money. Curious about Joaquín, Jacob follows him one night through a filthy alley to his wretched house, a sight that stimulates Jacob’s compassion.

Jacob’s reputation suffers irreparable damage when a newly appointed Anglican chaplain arrives in Chile and examines the accounts of Jacob’s nonexistent mission to the Patagonian Indians.