Chapter 6 Summary

While hanging around the back entrance of the Folies-Bergere to get a glimpse of the showgirls, Henry meets Serge, a large Russian who wants to learn English. Serge offers a meal a day and a place to sleep in return for English lessons, and Henry happily accepts due to hunger. One problem is that Henry likes to check for mail from America regularly, but Serge lives in Suresness, a suburb of Paris. Upon trying out the arrangement, Henry has Serge return him to Paris. Being back in the city makes Henry feel as if released from prison.

Henry looks into the window of a gym that displays before and after photos of clients. He thinks they look like frogs. He passes a young prostitute with a wooden leg and wonders what it might be like to have sex with her. He talks with...