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Really though, he felt the need of fresh air, and so he took his time, smoking cigarettes and enjoying the morning air. When he left Madame Lerat's house, he went into a dairy place on Les Batignolles for a cup of hot coffee and remained there an hour, thinking things over. Towards nine o'clock the family were all united in the shop, the shutters of which were kept up. Lorilleux did not cry.
On another occasion, after a long silence up in the bedroom, she fell sobbing on the lad's neck, declaring in broken accents that she was afraid of dying. She would often croon a favorite ballad of Mme Lerat's, which was full of flowers and birds.
Madame Lerat's fringe looked as though it had been dipped in the coffee. Madame Fauconnier's chintz dress was spotted with gravy. Mother Coupeau's green shawl, fallen from off a chair, was discovered in a corner, rolled up and trodden upon. But it was Madame Lorilleux especially who became more ill-tempered still.
With the pause in singing, they began to talk about a woman who had been found hanging that morning in the building next door. It was Madame Lerat's turn, but she required to prepare herself. She dipped the corner of her napkin into a glass of water and applied it to her temples because she was too hot. Then, she asked for a thimbleful of brandy, drank it, and slowly wiped her lips.
Madame Boche, in a low voice accused Boche of caressing Madame Lerat's knees. Oh, he was a sly one, but he was getting a little too gay. She had certainly seen his hand disappear. If he did it again, drat him! She wouldn't hesitate throwing a pitcher of water over his head. In the partial silence, Monsieur Madinier was talking politics. "Their law of May 31, is an abominable one.
At the end of a half-hour he reappeared, having yielded to the extent of paying three francs, but no one was satisfied, and they all began a discussion in regard to the extras. The evening was spoiled, as was Mme Lerat's dress; there was no end to the chapter of accidents. "I know," cried Mme Lorilleux, "that the garcon spilled gravy from the chickens down my back."
Mme Boche accused her husband of holding Mme Lerat's hand under the table. Madinier talked politics. He was a Republican, and Bibi-la-Grillade and himself were soon in a hot discussion. "Who cares," cried Coupeau, "whether we have a king, an emperor or a president, so long as we earn our five francs per day!" Lorilleux shook his head.
Nay, through fear of being followed, she even deprived herself of the pleasure of calling on Madame. Nevertheless, that same morning she had run round to Mme Lerat's because matters were taking a new turn. The evening before creditors in the persons of the upholsterer, the charcoal merchant and the laundress had put in an appearance and had offered to give Madame an extension of time.
They were shouting loudly and angrily and waving their arms violently. Gervaise felt faint and as it continued for a while, she closed her eyes. Suddenly, she didn't hear any shouting and opened her eyes. The two men were chatting amiably together. Madame Lerat's voice rose higher and higher, warbling another verse. Gervaise exchanged a glance with Madame Boche and Virginie.
Madame Lerat herself once sent them into convulsions of laughter when she said, "Mademoiselle Lisa, my fire's gone out. Pass me yours." "Oh! Madame Lerat's fire's out!" laughed the whole shop. They refused to listen to any explanation, but maintained they were going to call in the gentleman outside to rekindle Madame Lerat's fire. However, the gentleman over the way had gone off.
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