The day before, Coupeau had offered to go with him and fetch his box, to save him the thirty sous for a cab.

But the other became quite embarrassed, saying that the box was too heavy, as though he wished up to the last moment to hide the place where he lodged.

He arrived in the afternoon towards three o'clock.

Coupeau did not happen to be in.

And Gervaise, standing at the shop door became quite pale on recognizing the box outside the cab.