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]