File No. 113, Emile Gaboriau [digital e reader txt] 📗

II

The banking-house of Andre Fauvel, No. 87 Rue de Provence, is animportant establishment, and, owing to its large force of clerks,presents very much the appearance of a government department.

On the ground-floor are the offices, with windows opening on thestreet, fortified by strong iron bars sufficiently large and closetogether to discourage all burglarious attempts.

A large glass door opens into a spacious vestibule where three or fouroffice-boys are always in waiting.

On the right are the rooms to which the public is admitted, and fromwhich a narrow passage leads to the principal cash-room.

The offices of the corresponding clerk, book-keeper, and generalaccounts are on the left.

At the farther end is a small court on which open seven or eightlittle wicket doors. These are kept closed, except on certain dayswhen notes are due; and then they are indispensable.

M. Fauvel's private office is on the first floor over the offices, andleads into hi