midnight
It is an `` impasse '' ; traversable only for foot passengers . Over the entrance on the Rue de Rennes is a balcony , supported by an iron dragon . Within the court tall old houses rise on either side , and close the ends that give on the two streets . Huge gates , swung back during the day into the walls of the deep archways , close this court , after midnight , and one must enter then by ringing at certain small doors on the side . The sunken pavement collects unsavoury pools . Steep stairways pitch down to doors that open on the court . The ground floors are occupied by shops of second-hand dealers , and by iron workers .