I was born farther on, at No.22.But this house is, all the same, a fine block of masonry! It's as big as a barrack inside!" Gervaise looked up, examining the facade.

On the street side, the tenement had five stories, each with fifteen windows, whose black shutters with their broken slats gave an air of desolation to the wide expanse of wall.

Four shops occupied the ground floor.

To the right of the entrance, a large, greasy hash house, and to the left, a coal dealer, a notions seller, and an umbrella merchant.

The building appeared even larger than it was because it had on each side a small, low building which seemed to lean against it for support.