I live in the Court of the Dragon, a narrow passage that leads from the rue de Rennes to the rue du Dragon. Over the entrance of the rue de Rennes is a balcony, supported by an iron dragon. Within the court tall old houses rise on either side, and close the ends that give on the two streets. Huge gates, swung back during the day into the walls of the deep archways, close this court, after midnight, and one must enter then by ringing at certain small doors on the side. The sunken pavement collects unsavory pools.
Steep stairways pitch down to doors that open on the court.
The ground floors are occupied by shops of second-hand dealers, and by iron workers. All day long the place rings with the clinks of hammers, and the clang of metal bars. Unsavory as it is below, there is cheerfulness, and comfort, and hard, honest work above. I was young, and not alone. I had to walk awhile before any conveyance appeared, but at last, when I had almost reached the Arc de Triomphe again, an empty cab came along and I took it.