There were a few men there in morning clothes, but these were dressed with the rigid exactness of the Frenchman, who often, from choice, affects this style of toilet.

From the first I felt that the place possessed an atmosphere.

I could not describe it, but, quite apart from Louis' few words concerning it, I knew that it had a clientele of its own, and that within its four walls were gathered together people who were in some way different from the butterfly crowd who haunt the night cafes in Paris.

Monsieur Carvin himself led us to a small table against the wall, and not far inside the room.

The _vestiaire_ relieved us of our coats and hats.