Arthur Fidelman is a failed painter, and he knows it. To that end, he gives up and decides to spend a year in Italy writing a book on the painter Giotto. On his first day in Rome, a scrawny man on the street catches his eye, introducing himself as Shimon Susskind, an unemployed refugee from Germany by way of Israel. After Fidelman explains why he's come to Italy, Susskind badgers him for his extra suit and some money. A week later, Susskind opens the door to Fidelman's hotel room — he has been tailing him. Again, he asks for a suit, and again, Fidelman refuses, giving him five dollars instead. Throughout the rest of the month, Fidelman runs into Susskind twice more, each time refusing him his extra suit, more money, a massive loan to start his business, and more. But one day, Fidelman comes back to an open hotel room door. His briefcase, which contains the first chapter of his book, is gone, and he only has one suspect. For two months, he combs the streets of Rome, makes inquests everywhere that comes to mind, and barely suppresses his hatred of the refugee. Try as he might, he cannot force himself to write. He needs the chapter. In late fall, Fidelman finally tracks Susskind down to a tenement in the city's ghetto. First asking the man himself and then searching his flat, he still has no luck finding his manuscript. But one day, he finally finds Susskind at home. He gives him, at long last, his extra suit, telling him that he wishes nothing in return. Susskind chases after him, throws the briefcase his way, and runs off, explaining that by burning the manuscript, he's done Fidelman a favor — the words were there, but the spirit was missing.