Paris by night. Rue Pigalle.

Source:
Paris en Images, copyright Pierre Jahan / Roger-Viollet (JAH-NOC-2-126):
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Gaito Gazdanov's Paris / 34

The mistress

I never stopped in Montmartre; down there each bistro had its own taxi drivers who formed little clans and didn�t tolerate competition. Besides, I had an a particular aversion and distaste for this kind of work.

I preferred the places in the outlying districts where you didn�t have to wait on the stands for long. Ideally, the rich and quiet neighbourhoods: cars were less numerous here than downtown.

On Saturdays you met with a special clientele; it was composed of aged and respectable men who accompanied pretty young women as far as the car.

�Driver, you will take mademoiselle to number 34, boulevard Arrago. Goodbye, my dear. Until Wednesday, isn�t that right?�

�Yes, I�ll call you at the office.�

�Perfect. Be good and sleep well.�

�Good night!�

But as soon as the car pulled away, the young lady would say, in a different tone:

�Pigalle.�

It could just as easily be Blanche or Montparnasse. [193]