ɪn ˈɜːli sˈʌmɚɹ ɪn pˈæɹɪs, ðə wʊdbiː kəmpˈoʊzɚ ɔːɹ ˈɑːɹkɪtˌɛkt, ɐmˈɛɹɪkən baɪ nˌæʃənˈælᵻɾi, pˈiːɾɚ wˈɛsɪlɹˌɪn, kˈɑːmənli nˈoʊn æz pɪˈɛɹ, lˈɜːnz ðæt hɪz ɹˈɪtʃ ˈænt hɐz dˈaɪd.
In early summer in Paris, the would-be composer or architect, American by nationality, Peter Wesselrin, commonly known as Pierre, learns that his rich aunt has died.