"Can't you apologize?
And you play the disgusted one?
Just because a fellow wears a blouse!" The young man turned round and looked at the zinc-worker from head to foot.
"I'll just teach you, you scraggy young scamp," continued Coupeau, "that the blouse is the finest garment out; yes! the garment of work.

I'll wipe you if you like with my fists.

Did one ever hear of such a thing--a ne'er-do-well insulting a workman!" Gervaise tried to calm him, but in vain.

He drew himself up in his rags, in full view, and struck his blouse, roaring: "There's a man's chest under that!" Thereupon the young man dived into the midst of the crowd, muttering: "What a dirty blackguard!" Coupeau wanted to follow and catch him.

He wasn't going to let himself be insulted by a fellow with a coat on.