They would go on for hours, sometimes, in high dudgeon at its outrageousness.

Noisy or deserted city, pallid or hysterical city, gutted, devastated, soiled city, city bristling with prohibitions, steel bars, iron fences, locks.

Charnel house city: the covered markets that are rotting away

Or else, in a sudden rush of sympathy, you almost feel like sending him salutary messages, tapping with your fist against the partition