Bornier muttered something, and Frank followed him into a room where there were three long tables, at which a number of persons were sitting, smoking, drinking, talking covertly, with sidelong glances, and appearing suspicious of all around them.
The walls were decorated with fantastic bill posters, unframed oil-paintings of a lurid order, beer mugs, death-masks, and so forth. There was no bar.
Beyond this room there was yet another, which was reached by a narrow door. The walls of this room were painted with scenes of celebrated murders, executions on the guillotine, photographs of anarchists, together with famous police officers. It was a ghastly room, lighted by yellow lamps, which gave out an uncanny glow.
In this room men and women were, the men crafty and cunning in their movements, the women bold and unwomanly. They were drinking, talking and laughing, but their voices were unpleasant, and their laughter mirthless.
Yet it was said that any one could visit this place in company with a guide and be quite safe. He would be expected to pay liberally for drinks, and to treat everybody. The guide would charge him an exorbitant price for his services, and would collect the sum before the Red Flag was left behind. If the sight-seeing individual objected, and made a rumpus, he would be held till the price was collected by force; but, even though he had much money about his person, no more than the sum named would be taken. The rest would be returned to his pockets.
Henri Bornier was shrewd. He would not permit out and out robbery in his place, knowing the police would make short work of him if he did. The police did not mind if the guides charged exorbitant prices for their services, and Bornier sold his wine for five times its worth; and they laughed at the manner of forcibly collecting these charges.
Frank was obliged to pause for inspection in the first room. The suspicious-eyed men looked him over. Bornier explained that he had been there once before, and had proved himself a very good customer. He added that the young American would be pleased to have everybody drink with him.
So Frank paid for the drinks without a murmur, and then, in due time, passed on into the next room, when he met with a surprise that nearly took his breath.