A middle-aged, American writer goes to Sophia where he meets with a group of writers. Although he questions his own competency as a writer, he feels a level of superiority and disdain for the writers around him. He thinks of his dislike for other Americans and continues drinking with these men. In the middle of their talk, a blond, Bulgarian “poetess” comes in, and the writer is almost immediately obsessed with her. He thinks back on the other women he has loved and realizes he has felt the need to save them all. With the poetess, he feels she is capable and intelligent on her own. He asks around about her, and although he has plans for his last two night here, he agrees to get drinks with her beforehand. At drinks, the two of them talk about writing and love. On his last night, at a farewell party, the poetess gives him a collection of her poems with love. He gives her a copy of his most recent book with the inscription “it is a matter of earnest regret for me that you and I live on opposite sides of the world.”