In this untitled and unfinished story fragment, the narrator, Iron Mike Costigan, a professional boxer, is in the midst of a training session when he catches the attention of Marilyn Taverel, a high society lady with golden hair and violet eyes. Marilyn, clearly out of her element in the gritty surroundings of a boxing gym, expresses her admiration for Mike's physique and mentions having been thrilled by his match with the champion.

As Mike and Marilyn exchange introductions, we are also introduced to Tommy Densington, a frail-looking man accompanying Marilyn, who appears almost as an afterthought to her. Mike is visibly flattered by Marilyn's interest, a sentiment interrupted by Battling O’Toole, Mike's sparring partner, who attempts to continue their bout despite being dazed from a previous punch.

The encounter is further complicated by the arrival of Shifty O’Leary, Mike's manager, whose sinister presence and insistence on Mike returning to his training routine suggest a controlling and potentially exploitative relationship between the manager and his boxer. Shifty's dismissive attitude towards the excitement Marilyn expresses about the boxing match hints at a tension between the world of sport and the high society Marilyn represents.

The fragment ends with Mike threatening Shifty in defense of his momentary escape from the rigors of training into a brief interaction with Marilyn, highlighting the boxer's struggle between his professional obligations and the allure of a different life represented by Marilyn's admiration.