The street is thronged, the place is packed, the door is wide open, anybody who wishes may go in.

Men come and peep through the windows or talk in an undertone to some half-clad creature, who bends eagerly over their faces.

Groups stand around and wait their turn.

It is all quite informal and unrestrained.
Being conscientious travellers, and desiring to see and study everything at close range, we entered.
In a room papered in red, three or four girls were sitting at a round table, and a man with a cap on his head and a pipe in his mouth was reclining on the sofa; he bowed politely when we entered.

The women wore Parisian dresses and were modest in their demeanour.