During the next ten days, he got hold of guests in the house where his sister lived in the Rue de la Goutte-d'Or--Monsieur Madinier, Mademoiselle Remanjou, Madame Gaudron and her husband.

He even ended by getting Gervaise to consent to the presence of two of his comrades--Bibi-the-Smoker and My-Boots.

No doubt My-Boots was a boozer; but then he had such a fantastic appetite that he was always asked to join those sort of gatherings, just for the sight of the caterer's mug when he beheld that bottomless pit swallowing his twelve pounds of bread.

The young woman on her side, promised to bring her employer Madame Fauconnier and the Boches, some very agreeable people.

On counting, they found there would be fifteen to sit down to table, which was quite enough.