of the novel introduces the character Lahrier, who is caught in traffic due to a passing regiment, leading to reflections on his reluctance to arrive at work on time. As he enjoys a spring afternoon in Paris, he contemplates the tension between his desire for leisure and the demands of his job in the Direction Générale des Dons et Legs. The narrative highlights Lahrier's internal struggle regarding his responsibilities and his dissatisfaction with the bureaucratic structure he is part of. The tone is marked by humor and a sense of irony as Lahrier daydreams about fleeing the office, setting the stage for a story that critiques the inefficiencies and absurdities of government work. (This is an automatically generated summary.)