Count Julian - pg. 11

the life of an emigre of your stripe is made up of a
discontinuous series of events that are very difficult
to assemble into a coherent whole: though it no longer
enjoys its former prestigious international status, the
city is still a melting pot for all sorts of exiles,
and its inhabitants appear to be living in an uncertain
present that is very enjoyable and full of material
riches for certain people and a time of hardship and
austerity for the rest: a test tube for complicated
chemical experiments involving elements of the most
disparate origins and background