Chapter 5: Bienvenue à l'Hôtel Saint Merry

Paris, France

September, 1992

Inside an abandoned seven-floor, 70 room house near the catacombs, hundreds of revelers, some in floor-length gowns, curly white wigs and feathered masks gathered on a very late Friday night.

In a front parlour, a nearly nude woman with a giant bouffant and flower-adorned underwear performed a sultry dance whilst wearing pink angel wings, while a contortionist spouted florid obscenities as he thoroughly ploughed into the recesses of another nude reveler. At the bottom of a sweeping grand staircase, a quartet performed Mozart's Requiem in D minor, K.626 while couples waltzed.

Lydia and Prudence sat in a deserted corner and surveyed the smoky room, keeping an eye on Bertha as she drunkenly waltzed with her newest paramour.

************** Four Hours Earlier...

The three Americans had gotten off of the train at Gare du Nord, left the crowded thoroughfare by the closest exit, and approached the nearest cab in the queue at the curb. The driver popped the boot, got out to help the girls get their bags, and held the door open to the big black Mercedes as they piled in.

"Où les filles?" The driver asked, smiling and showing his perfect white teeth.

"L'hôtel le plus proche s'il vous plaît…" Prudence was their spokeswoman, as Lydia only knew a smattering of high school French (to please Delia) and was not confident in speaking it, and Bertha had never applied herself to learn.

"Oh, Americans! Welcome! Yes, yes, I know which is perfect - Hotel Saint Merry." The driver said in beautifully accented English. "It is very beautiful. Was part of a parish church, you know? Very fine hotel. Yes, yes, it is very beautiful, just like you lovely filles." The driver looked at the girls in his rearview, flashing his charming smile again. "Do you have many plans for our city?"

"Ooooh, yes!" Bertha chimed in. "We want to see it all! Do you have any ideas?"

"Oh, I have plenty of ideas, but I do not know if young ladies as yourselves would be interested!' The driver winked and laughed flirtatiously. "Do you want to enjoy the nightlife?"

"YESSSSSSSS!" Bertha shrieked in the enclosed space, much to Lydia and Prudence's dismay.

"Well, you are very lucky! I happen to know la conciergerie at Saint Merry. He knows all of the best spots, better than what any tourist books will tell you" he laughed, looking at Prudence's Fodor's.

"The Saint Merry, you said? On Rue de la Verrerie? It's in here, and has four stars." Prudence said while glancing in her tour book, pushing her glasses up her nose. "It looks really nice Lydia, right up your alley. Very gothic yet modern."

"Sounds good to me ladies. We said we weren't going to pre-book so we could have an adventure and make our schedules as we went along. It's up to you." Lydia said, smiling.

"Ooooh, let's stay at this hotel that our dashing driver... What was your name, hon?" Bertha looked to the driver, blinking her big eyes and flipping her long wavy chestnut curls.

"Xavier Dupont de Ligonnès, but you may call me Xav." the handsome cabbie winked.

"Pleased to meet you Xav!" Bertha cooed.

A small frown crossed Lydia's brow. The name sounded familiar... She searched her memory, but came up with nothing, so let it go and enjoyed the moment.

The sleek auto pulled up to a four-storey white marble stone building with "ST MERRY" in elegant serif brass font at the door. Xav hopped out, opening the door for the girls. Even though it was night, the Ville des Lumières was true to its name and the street was brightly lit. Lydia paused to take an artistically angled photo of the reflection of the hotel on the gleaming cobblestone street. She took the shot, then noticed Xav was standing next to her, his doppelgänger's white teeth shining bright even in the puddle of water.

"So sorry, mon cher." He stepped aside.

The door to the hotel opened, and an elegantly dressed bellboy emerged with an ornate brass luggage trolley. He made quick work of the trio's bags, stacking them neatly.

Xav led the way through the gleaming modern lobby. Here and there, amongst the luxurious aqua colored velvet divan and modern Chihuly-inspired chandelier, the building's gothic origins shone through with a bit of 18th century stonework showcased next to the sleek, minimalist amenities. The juxtaposition of the varying styles worked well.

They approached the front desk, where Xav tapped on a discreet bell on the counter. A balding but handsome middle-aged man came out of a side door behind the expanse of black marble.

"Henri, my friend! These belles dames are visiting us from the USA. I have told them you know of all of the best places for them to experience all the night has to offer in Paris." Xav introduced them.

Henri and Xav looked at one other, seemingly silently relaying information. Lydia watched their interaction.

Henri broke the staring contest with his compatriot first, and his hospitality professionalism quickly came to the fore. "Oui, oui, bonjour mademoiselles. I have the perfect soirée in mind for you. It is very secret, you know? But I will give you my calling card to take, and they will welcome you."

"Ooooh, very sucray… That sounds so elegant!" Bertha giggled.

"He said it's very secret. Why is it secret?" Prudence asked with a roll of her eyes at her naive friend.

"Well, they do not just let anyone in. Only the most beautiful, such as yourselves. This way, everyone has the best time, with the best sort of people. But first, let me get you settled in your rooms."

With this, Xav bowed with a flourish.

"Goodnight, ladies. I might see you again later, perhaps?" He reached for Bertha's hand and gave it a light kiss, giving her a wink, which caused the girl to blush while nodding. He turned for the door.

"Wait, your fare?" Lydia called after him.

"Being able to meet you all was fare enough. Au revoir pour le moment."

"If I could just get the formalities done, mademoiselle, and then I will give you the directions and the information for the soirée." Henri distracted Lydia from her puzzlement at why Xavier turned down his commission.

"Do not worry about him, cher. He only drives pretty women such as yourselves for the joy of it, not the money!" Henri laughed as he took her information, smiling at her Amex platinum card while cross-checking the information from her passport.

Lydia did not feel reassured by Henri's nonchalant attitude at all.

"Renaud! Take the ladies to their suite." Henri called the bellboy over.

The trio of friends followed Renaud to the beautiful mirrored elevator and rode up to the fourth floor where they found themselves in front an elegant set of double doors market "20'.

"Bienvenue à l'Hôtel Saint Merry" Renaud murmured quietly after stacking their bags. "S'il te plait fais attention.'

"Je vous remercie.' Lydia dug up her conversational French and few francs as a tip. After Renaud left, she turned to Prudence. "What did he say after welcoming us to the hotel? Did you get that?"

"He said to be careful. That's a bit of an ominous welcome, don't you think?" Prudence chuckled hesitantly.