‘Not really, no. He was in deep trouble. Huge debts. He’d been losing heavily at baccarat for three months.’

‘I see.’

‘The second was an eccentric sort of Englishman. We took out advertisements in the press, you see. We explained our procedures. Offered all kinds of different deaths. Choice. The greatest response came, I have to say, from the poor.’

‘But, I mean, how do you actually set about it? What do you actually do?’

‘Perhaps you’d like a tour of the place? I can explain as we go along.’

‘Yes, thank you.’

He picked up his hat, opened the door for me and went on to usher me into a gaming room full of gentlemen at the tables much as in any other club. We then passed through various reception rooms where there was a great deal of animated conversation going on. I had rarely been in such a lively atmosphere. Very gay and convivial it all was. As I said as much, the secretary replied:

‘Oh it’s a top spot. Anybody who’s anybody belongs. To show how much contempt they have for death. And once they’re in, lest anyone think they really are afraid of it, they feel an obligation to show how relaxed and happy they feel. It makes for an extremely good atmosphere. Lots of laughter and fun, you know. Wit is very highly prized. Here you’ve either got it or you learn it. It’s arguably the place to see and be seen in the whole of Paris. So much so that there’ll soon be an annexe for women. They insist on being part of the whole thing.’

‘Despite the fact that you’ve got a lot of suicides going on all the time here?’

‘Yes, as I mentioned, between forty and fifty per day. Very few from the upper échelons of society, admittedly, quite a few middle-class types and then plenty of the other poor devils.’

‘And tell me, how does it actually work?’

‘Asphyxiation. Gradual, of course.’

‘How do you do it?’

‘By gas. It’s one we invented ourselves. We’ve taken a patent out on it. On the other side of the building you’ll find the public entrances. Three inconspicuous little doors leading in from the back streets. When a man or a woman comes to us, we start off by asking a few questions. Then we offer help, support and a measure of protection. With the client’s agreement, we open up an enquiry and quite often we are able to rescue them.’

‘Where does the money come from?’

‘We have generous funds in our possession. The cost of membership is extremely high. And of course a lot of prestige comes from making donations to the cause. The names of all sponsors are published regularly in the Figaro9. On top of that, every wealthy would-be suicide has to pay 1,000 francs. It’s means-tested, with no charge at all for the poor.’