And they were mean enough to skin an egg, real misers.

They were so stingy that they'd hide their bottle when any one came in, so as not to have to offer a glass of wine--not regular people at all.
Gervaise had brought over cassis and soda water one day to drink with the Boches.

When Madame Lorilleux went by, she acted out spitting before the concierge's door.

Well, after that when Madame Boches swept the corridors on Saturdays, she always left a pile of trash before the Lorilleuxs' door.
"It isn't to be wondered at!" Madame Lorilleux would exclaim, "Clump-clump's always stuffing them, the gluttons! Ah! they're all alike; but they had better not annoy me! I'll complain to the landlord.
Only yesterday I saw that sly old Boche chasing after Madame Gaudron's skirts.

Just fancy! A woman of that age, and who has half a dozen children, too; it's positively disgusting! If I catch them at anything of the sort again, I'll tell Madame Boche, and she'll give them both a hiding.