She had begun to scrub the floor again, with her back bent and dragging herself along with a frog-like motion.
She still had to sweep the dirty water out into the gutter, and then do the final rinsing.
After a pause, Lantier, who felt bored, raised his voice again: "Do you know, Badingue," he cried, "I met your boss yesterday in the Rue de Rivoli.

He looked awfully down in the mouth.

He hasn't six months' life left in his body.

Ah! after all, with the life he leads--" He was talking about the Emperor.

The policeman did not raise his eyes, but curtly answered: "If you were the Government you wouldn't be so fat." "Oh, my dear fellow, if I were the Government," rejoined the hatter, suddenly affecting an air of gravity, "things would go on rather better, I give you my word for it.