The Sucide Letter´s Consequence

As the story begins, Dr. Juvenal Urbino is examining the corpse of his close

friend and chess adversary, Jeremiah de Saint-Amour, who has just committed suicide

at sixty years of age with the poisonous fumes of gold cyanide along with his Great

Dane. Dr. Urbino uses his methods of persuasion to have Saint-Amour buried that same

day, Pentecost. Dr. Urbino notices an unfinished game of chess that shows that Saint-

Amour would be defeated in four moves, a rare sight. Along with this unfinished game of

chess there is a envelope addressed to him that contains an eleven page double-sided

letter with instructions for Dr. Urbino. When questioned about the letter he states it is

Saint-Amour’s “final instructions” which is the partial truth. The letter instructs him to go

to old slave area of town where he meets Saint-Amour’s lover. After a revealing game

of chess, Dr. Urbino discovers that this woman not only knew of Saint-Amour’s plan for

suicide but aided him in it. Saint-Amour’s reason for suicide was that he never wanted

to grow old and the age 60 was the age he decided he would end his life.

Dr. Urbino returns home to find his servants chasing his escaped parrot. After

attending a pupils silver anniversary luncheon the Doctor return home and discovers the

missing parrot at the lowest branch of the mango tree. He attempts to retrieve the bird

but just as he gains hold, he slips from the ladder that he has climbed and falls to his

death. His wife, Florina Daza, comes to him and with his dying breath he tells her, "Only

God knows how much I love you."

Although Dr. Urbino feared that his wife would be alone and helpless, she is

not. Florentino Ariza attends the vigil for the late doctor and is not recog...

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...ral months until the doctor comes for her. This rekindles

their love and helps their marriage.

A short time later the Doctor dies and the events that took place in the beginning

are starting again. After some short communication through letters they rekindle their

own childhood love and Florentino visits her often. Florina becomes overburdened and

Florentino convinces her to take a cruise him and they adventure off together. On the

cruise they finally continue their love and make love one night. In the last port Florentino

orders the Captain to leave everyone at the port and state there is an infection of

cholera on board. The only people who leave with the cruise is Florentino, Florina, the

Captain and his own lover. Because they flew the cholera flag no port will let them port

and so they are exiled to travel the river for the rest of their days.