The low guard-room, in which the town records are kept, is divided in the middle by three polygonal columns unequally interspaced. The stone staircase with ribbed vaulting and graceful ornamentation, was formerly the grand staircase. Transferred to its present position, it now leads to the chapel known as the "Salle du Conclave," where the magistrates of Lille sat until 1789. To the right of the chapel is a brick building, the façade of which is divided by two similar gables. Jutting out at the corner is an octagonal turret containing two small vaulted chambers. Above is a third room with timber-work ceiling, known as the "Oratory of the Duchess." An opening in the wall communicates with the chapel, and through it the choir is visible. From this room, which is reached by a spiral staircase of stone inside the turret, it is possible to hear the service without being seen. [Illustration: THE RUE DE PARIS: _in the background_: THE THEATRE _and_ THE NEW BOURSE] [Sidenote: _See itinerary, p. 25_] _Re-cross the Hôtel de Ville ruins and return to the Place de Rihour. Follow the Rue de la Vieille-Comédie and Rue du Sec-Arembault (plan, p. 25); the latter comes out into the Rue de Paris, in front of =St. Maurice's church=._ The Church of St. Maurice _(historical monument)_ The church was seriously damaged by the bombardment of October 1914, which set fire to the roof. [Illustration: ST. MAURICE'S CHURCH] It is a curious specimen of the 15th century Gothic-Flamboyant style of Walloon-Flanders, and comprises five naves of equal height arranged quincuncially, whereas most of the churches belonging to that period have three naves under a single roof, the aisles being shorter than the great nave, while the tower is necessarily placed over the main entrance _(see St. Catherine's Church, p. 54)_. It also contains an ambulatory and an apse formed by polygonal chapels. The façade, with its three portals, steeples of open construction, and white stone tower at the entrance, dates from the second half of the 19th century. The old square tower was pulled down in 1826 as unsafe. These different alterations were carried out under the direction of the architect _Lannissie_. According to _Monseigneur Dehaisnes_, the remarkable exterior of this church is due to these successive restorations and alterations. [Illustration: ST. MAURICE'S CHURCH: THE NAVE] Inside the church are rows of round slender columns with sculptured capitals, irregularly spaced.