When her husband pressed her with questions in view of obtaining her consent, she answered curtly, giving him to understand that if he left his office, he would no longer be earning any money, and would be living entirely at her expense.
But, as she spoke, Laurent observed her so keenly, that he troubled her, and arrested on her lips the refusal she was about to utter.

She fancied she read in the eyes of her accomplice, this menacing threat: "If you do not consent, I shall reveal everything." She began to stammer, and Madame Raquin exclaimed that the desire of her dear son was no more than what was just, and that they must give him the means to become a man of talent.

The good lady spoilt Laurent as she had spoilt Camille.

Quite mollified by the caresses the young man lavished on her, she belonged to him, and never failed to take his part.
It was therefore decided that Laurent should have a studio, and receive one hundred francs a month pocket-money.

The budget of the family was arranged in this way: the profits realised in the mercery business would pay the rent of the shop and apartment, and the balance would almost suffice for the daily expenses of the family; Laurent would receive the rent of his studio and his one hundred francs a month, out of the two thousand and a few hundred francs income from the funded money, the remainder going into the general purse.