A sad short story of love and deceit.

A young man visiting his home town desires a quick affair. While there he unexpectedly comes across a woman he had known as a schoolboy. She has become a deep, sensitive, and truthful woman. Married to a shallow and vulgar man, she is miserable but blames no one. The young man sees his chance. Reminding the childhood girlfriend he always loved her, and sweari ng to devote his life to her, he seduces her, and then sneaks out of town. We recognize the man’s search for treasure as an allegory on the quest for true happiness. The unhappy are egoistic, spiteful, unjust, cruel, and less capable of understanding each other than fools. Unhappiness does not bring people together but draws them apart. The luxurious surroundings, the idyllic landscape - that bespeaks higher a cultural status of the townspeople,as opposed to village folks who would have reacted wrathfully. Nobody knows the real truth, as the young man leaves town turning up the collar of his overcoat and thrusting his hands in his sleeves. . . . A light rain began to fall. It is as if his gestures acknowledge the perpetual inclemency and uncertainty of human life.