Meaning

We were wandering the corridors of a large building; a hotel, and a grand one at that, even if its grandness appeared to be fading. We were looking for a room, trying doors but most seemed to be locked and the ones that weren't revealed themselves, monotonously, not to be the desired one. We knocked on another door, there was no response from inside, so I opened it and just inside in semi-darkness was a man bent low tying his shoelace. He looks up, without any great expression of interest. We apologise and leave.
After a minute my friend asked what it all meant.
"But why would it mean anything?"
But he was insistent, was convinced. It had to mean something. I didn't and still don't understand.