THE PHILOSOPHY OF MONSIEUR LE MARQUIS DE PERIGNY The Hotel de Perigny stood in the Rue des Augustines, diagonally opposite the historic pile once occupied by Henri II and Diane de Poitiers, the beautiful and fascinating Duchesse de Valentinois of equivocal yet enduring fame.

It was constructed in the severe beauty of Roman straight lines, and the stains of nearly two centuries had discolored the blue-veined Italian marble.

A high wall inclosed it, and on the top of this wall ran a miniature cheval-de-frise of iron.
Nighttime or daytime, in mean or brilliant light, it took on the somber visage of a kill-joy.

The invisible hand of fear chilled and repelled the curious: it was a house of dread.

There were no gardens; the flooring of the entire court was of stone; there was not even the usual vine sprawling over the walls.
Men had died in this house; not always in bed, which is to say, naturally.