Restless House by Émile Zola. Short summary

5 seconds

A provincial gigolo, who has come to conquer Paris, settles in a respectable, profitable house. He soon realizes that, without leaving the mansion, he can make useful connections and marry profitably.

1 minute

Octave Muret, an enterprising, handsome provincial, comes to conquer Paris. He settles in a respectable revenue house, where only respectable people, respectable bourgeois, live. At least, that is what the landlord, Papa Vabre, declares.

Mouret is timid at first, but quickly settles in, realizing that «everyone is a friend. In fact, all the vices of society have gathered in the respectable mansion: greedy heirs, unfaithful spouses, aging voluptuous men, corrupt women, gigolos, ladies who sell their daughters.

Octave, without leaving home, makes useful connections, arranges amorous affairs and progressively advances to the cream of society through the beds of influential ladies.

Murray confidently acts in the right direction and achieves his goal of becoming a successful businessman in the capital. Marrying a rich widow opens the door to big business for him.