THE ARROW OF GOLD

PART ONE


CHAPTER I


Certain streets have an atmosphere of their own, a sort of universal fame
and the particular affection of their citizens. One of such streets is
the Cannebière, and the jest: “If Paris had a Cannebière it would be a
little Marseilles” is the jocular expression of municipal pride. I, too,
I have been under the spell. For me it has been a street leading into
the unknown.

There was a part of it where one could see as many as five big cafés in a
resplendent row. That evening I strolle...