When mother Coupeau carried it away in a little bonnet-box, she sunk on to a chair, without a particle of strength left in her arms, her eyes full of tears, as though a fortune was being torn from her.

But when mother Coupeau reappeared with twenty-five francs, the unexpected loan, the five francs profit consoled her; she at once sent the old woman out again for four sous' worth of brandy in a glass, just to toast the five-franc piece.
The two of them would often have a drop together, when they were on good terms with each other.

Mother Coupeau was very successful at bringing back a full glass hidden in her apron pocket without spilling a drop.
Well, the neighbors didn't need to know, did they.

But the neighbors knew perfectly well.

This turned the neighborhood even more against Gervaise.