"We mustn't keep you from your work." He moved about for a moment, waiting, hoping for a word or some allusion or other.

At length he decided to broach the subject himself.
"I say, Lorilleux, we're counting on you to be my wife's witness." The chainmaker pretended, with a chuckle, to be greatly surprised; whilst his wife, leaving her draw-plates, placed herself in the middle of the work-room.
"So it's serious then ?" murmured he.

"That confounded Young Cassis, one never knows whether he is joking or not." "Ah! yes, madame's the person involved," said the wife in her turn, as she stared rudely at Gervaise.

"_Mon Dieu!_ We've no advice to give you, we haven't.

It's a funny idea to go and get married, all the same.
Anyhow, it's your own wish.