An individual who was standing beyond the railing, in the free space around the marble table, and whom no one had yet caught sight of, since his long, thin body was completely sheltered from every visual ray by the diameter of the pillar against which he was leaning; this individual, we say, tall, gaunt, pallid, blond, still young, although already wrinkled about the brow and cheeks, with brilliant eyes and a smiling mouth, clad in garments of black serge, worn and shining with age, approached the marble table, and made a sign to the poor sufferer.
Barandaz alde honetatik, marmolezko mahaiaren inguruan libre utzitako tartean eta bere gorputz luze-liraina apoiaturik zegoeneko pilarearen diametroak begi-bistatik erabat ezkutatzen zuelako, inork ez zuen erreparatu han pertsona bat zegoela. Pertsona hura (garai, argal, zurbil, ilehori, artean gazte-nahiz eta bekokian zein masailetan zimurrak erakutsi-, begi-bizi, aho-irritsu, zirrikiton beltz higatu eta zahardadez leundutakoaz jantzitakoa), marmolezko mahaira hurbildu eta keinu bat egin zion komediante gaixoari, baina besteak, harrituta, ez zuen ikusten.