While waiting for this he did nothing but stroll around all day like one of the idle rich.

If anyone dared to mention a hat factory looking for workers, he smiled and said he was not interested in breaking his back working for others.
A smart fellow like Lantier, according to Coupeau, knew how to take care of himself.

He always looked prosperous and it took money to look thus.
He must have some deal going.

One morning Coupeau had seen him having his shoes shined on the Boulevard Montmartre.

Lantier was very talkative about others, but the truth was that he told lies about himself.