It consisted of an upper story resting upon arches, the lower part, therefore, being entirely open.

Beneath these arches the merchants met and transacted business, and also in a room on the upper floor, where there were, too, a coffee house and a great room used for banquets, and the meetings of societies, the Royal Exchange being in truth the beginning of many exchanges that now mark the financial center of the New World.
"Perhaps we'll see the merchants there tomorrow," said Willet.

"You'll note the difference between New York and Quebec.

The French capital was all military.

You saw soldiers everywhere, but this is a town of merchants.