At the top of these, a door on his right allowed a thin streak of light to filtrate between its two folds.

An iron bell handle hung beside it; Armand gave it a pull.
Two minutes later he was amongst his friends.

He heaved a great sigh of content and relief.

The very atmosphere here seemed to be different.

As far as the lodging itself was concerned, it was as bare, as devoid of comfort as those sort of places--so-called chambres garnies--usually were in these days.