Ausable is a secret agent.

Ausable was residing at a small room on the top floor of a gloomy French hotel.

The narrator was a writer. He was disappointed because Ausable did not have any resemblance with the secret agents about who the narrator has read. Being a writer, he expected a thrilling episode. But, he didn't encounter anything like that.

After Fowler reached Ausable's room, Ausable made him sit and closed the door. He turned on the lights. And as the light came on, Fowler had his first authentic thrill of the day. For halfway across the room, a small automatic pistol in his hand, stood a man.