The window had enormous inside shutters of cast-iron, held, when closed, by a bar.

The door commanded respect by an armor of the same character.
At the farther end of this room, in a corner, was a spiral-staircase, coming, evidently, from some pulled-down shop, and bought in the rue Chapon by Cadenet, who had fitted it through the ceiling into the room in the entresol occupied by Cerizet.

In order to prevent all communication with the upper floors, Cerizet had exacted that the door of that room which opened on the common landing should be walled up.

The place had thus become a fortress.

The bedroom above had a cheap carpet bought for twenty francs, an iron bedstead, a bureau, three chairs, and an iron safe, made by a good workman, which Cerizet had bought at a bargain.