At best, however, they are _triste_, uncomfortable places.

There is no cafe in all Rome equal to a second-rate one in an ordinary French provincial town.

There are few newspapers, little domino playing, and not much conversation.

The spy system is carried to such an extent here, that even in private circles the speakers are on their guard as to what they say, and still more as to what they repeat.

As an instance of this, I may mention a case that happened to me personally.