But they did not leave yet.

Gervaise was curious enough to go to the far end of the room for a look at the big still behind the oak railing.

It was chugging away in the little glassed-in courtyard.

Coupeau explained its workings to her, pointing at the different parts of the machinery, showing her the trickling of the small stream of limpid alcohol.

Not a single gay puff of steam was coming forth from the endless coils.