of literature on his daughter. The opening of the novel sets the stage in a melancholic household where Mercedes, described as pale and troubled, has just bid goodnight and is observed by her father and mother, don Pedro and Balbina. As they converse, don Pedro expresses deep concerns about the harmful effects of literature on young minds, worrying about the implications of Mercedes reading forbidden texts. Their discussion reveals the parents' anxiety about their daughter's potential entanglements, particularly with a character named Roberto Alcalá. This tension between perception and reality is palpable as don Pedro reflects on his own literary works and their impact, ultimately suggesting an overarching sense of foreboding about the vulnerabilities that come with youth and desire. (This is an automatically generated summary.)