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"A NEIGHBORHOOD OF IMPRESSIVE APPEARANCE AND NOBLE DWELLINGS [...] WHERE THE PAST SEEMS TO RISE UP AT EVERY STEP..." 

-- Le faubourg Saint-Germain sous l'Empire et la Restauration by Jules Bertaut, 1949, p.8.

Turn back to the river:

• The simple dwellings and townhouses of the 17th and 18th centuries survived the urban transformation of the 1850's: Their residents backed the conservative regime.

• The discretion of this avant-garde restaurant fits that of a street...

• ...where upstart "bling" is inconceivable.

In front of the river book stalls, behind it, the Louvre

  "...in the aristocratic society play whist,

trot out commonplaces with an air that is grave and profound

and clever remarks that have been planned in advance,

and you will be thought a genius," 

said Châteaubriand of that world,

and the great artists of the time shared his boredom.

They did not evoke its distinction,

because it was taken for granted. 

The restaurant passed earlier

 fits their spirit.

End of this section.

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Next section,

2.1.4.

Back to the rampart, on to the river