PALAIS ROYAL. 455 



in good order, and efpecial care is taken of the canapees 

 and beds. The reftaurateurs have their cabinets on this 

 ftory, where fnug confidential parties meet ; and where 

 perfons of gayity can give a treat to reputable women 

 M their acquaintance. But more of this, when I come 

 to fpeak of the reftaurateurs. 



The manfardes have nearly the fame kind of inhabi- 

 tants ; here likewife artifts dwell in retirement, who are 

 content to profeciite their ftudies and to earn their bread 

 without noife or fhew. The profpect from above is the 

 fineft in the Palais Royal ; the air is pure and whole- 

 fome; the chambers are roomy; and, if not cheap, 

 yet are fifty per cent cheaper tjian in the fecond ftory. 

 Old batchelors have here fixed their abode in great 

 numbers. 



In the very roof, the architecT, who well knew how 

 profitably every fquare foot in this palace, whether in 

 the air or upon the earth, might be employed, has 

 found means of contriving numerous nefts of apart- 

 ments. They receive their light through a trap-door, 

 which is lifted up that the day may ileal in by a fquare 

 window. If the trap-door falls, the darknefs of ^Egypt 

 reigns in thefe rat-holes amidft the luflxe of the noon- 

 day fun. In fpite of this, they are all inhabited ; as is 

 every corner in the Palais Royal. The fhopkeepers' 

 fervants, the waiters belonging to the coffee- houfes, to 

 the reftaurateurs and to the taylors, live here on good 

 terms or on bad, with common girls of the inferior 

 claries ; and there alpft receive few other vifitants than 

 fuch as are compelled by urgent necefiity to climb 

 thofe aerial abodes : in plain erxgliih. the privies are ajl 

 jn this region. 



G G 4 Wc 



