It was as a secret between them, with winks and words rapidly exchanged, some mysterious understanding which betrayed itself even in their handshakings.
From this moment the hatter would covertly watch the Coupeaus whilst eating their dry bread, and becoming very talkative again, would deafen them with his continual jeremiads.

All day long Gervaise moved in the midst of that poverty which he so obligingly spread out.

_Mon Dieu!_ he wasn't thinking of himself; he would go on starving with his friends as long as they liked.

But look at it with common sense.

They owed at least five hundred francs in the neighborhood.