Mouret avait l'unique passion de vaincre la femme. Il la voulait reine dans sa maison, il lui avait bâti ce temple, pour l'y tenir à sa merci. C'était toute sa tactique, la griser d'attentions galantes et trafiquer de ses désirs, exploiter sa fièvre.

Emile Zola, Au Bonheur des Dames

Mouret's sole passion was the conquest of Woman. He wanted her to be queen in his shop ; he had built this temple for her in order to hold her at his mercy. His tactics were to intoxicate her with amorous attentions, to trade on her desires.

Emile Zola : The Ladies Paradise