"I must apologize for disturbing you during your scientific work," he began, sitting down on the chair near the window and resting both hands on his beautiful walking stick with an ivory handle (he usually took walks without a stick). "But I'm compelled to ask you to spare me five minutes of your time...
-Barkatuko didazu zure zientzi jarduera eragoztea-hasi zen, leiho ondoko aulki batean eseriz eta bi eskuak bere makila ederraren bolizko heldulekuan bermaturik (makilarik gabe ibili ohi zen)-, baina zure denborako bost minutu eskatu behar dizkizut...