As the story begins, the narrator is troubled by the impending visit for reasons he can't quite explain, though he attributes it to Robert's disability. Of course, the narrator can see with his eyes but does not realize the limitations he has placed on himself, and how those prevent him from seeing or wanting anything greater in life.The narrator is impressed with how little like a stereotypical blind man (dark glasses, a cane) Robert looks. I think everything for the narrator changes when Robert guides his hand to draw the cathedrral. Robert tells the narrator to close his eyes, which he does, and then encourages him to draw that way. The narrator acquiesces, and the experience is "like nothing else in [his life up to now."