the guy that the "hero" of the story is talking to IS slepping with his wife (i'm using the vauge pronouns because i forget the specific names, sorry). the tragedy (in my humble opinion) is that, to save his "image" or his self esteem, the "hero" lies to his friend about it, when the friend is the very one that stabbed him in the back in the first place. the friend knows damn well that the "hero" is lying about his wife being home, because she (the wife) is in his bed.the one guy that the "hero' went to for comfort is the source of the pain, and that make the "hero's" defeat, all the more complete. truly disturbing, and kinda zen (once more) if you want to look at it that way. hope that helps............