Résumé
The story follows Abbé Pierre Froment, a French priest, who arrives in Rome after a long and difficult journey.
He has been studying the city's topography and history. Upon arriving, he is immediately struck by the city's unique blend of old and new, and its unexpected architecture.
He is overwhelmed by a sense of feverish impatience to see all of Rome at once.
He feels a strong emotional connection to the city, which he describes as "the City of Caesars, the City of Popes, the eternal City that has twice conquered the world".
The narrative reveals that Pierre has spent the last three years in a state of emotional turmoil and despair, and that he has been helping an old priest with an asylum for abandoned children in Paris.