Brassai: Chez "Suzy", 1932-33.

Source:
Fine Art Photography Gallery & Forum: Brassai:
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Gaito Gazdanov's Paris / 21

The Dutchman

A Dutchman, whose train was leaving at ten to ten, had me take him to a brothel after nine o�clock. He asked me to call him if I didn�t see him come back before twenty to ten because he was afraid of having too good a time and missing his train.

At twenty to ten he wasn�t back so I set off in search of him. In the blue cigarette smoke, lit up by several powerful lamps, naked girls, sitting or standing, lolled about with customers of every description.

A big, fat woman, heavily made up and wearing a black sequined dress, hurried over to me; her enormous body shook with every step. She beamed with pleasure, but when I interrupted her to explain the reason for my presence her cordiality was immediately extinguished.

�I can do nothing. I have thirty-two rooms, twenty-eight of them are occupied. I�m not going to run around looking for your passenger. And even if he does miss his train, what can that matter to you?�

Anyway, when I came out, the Dutchman was already waiting. He had arrived a few seconds before me. [85]