The coin-flipping game

Picture yourself in late 18th century France. You are a traveler, stopping in Paris for a few days on your way south, with your evenings to yourself. Having asked the locals what places to visit during your time here, virtually all suggested that the Palais-Royal is the place to see. So, after dark, you go.

You see the hustle and bustle of Paris first-hand. Collections of cafes, bookshops, restaurants line the palace, and the gardens are filled with congregations of people just having a good time. The upper floors of the palace appear a bit more secretive and not as visibly open, but you can hear the sounds of yelling and laughter, and streams of light escaping from the gaps of the curtains of the windows… Something is definitely happening up there.