She was in the habit of watching over mother Coupeau during a part of the night.

Nana had showed herself very brave, always sleeping beside the old woman, and saying that if she heard her dying, she would wake everyone.

Since the invalid seemed to be sleeping peacefully this night, Gervaise finally yielded to the appeals of Lantier to come into his room for a little rest.

They only kept a candle alight, standing on the ground behind the wardrobe.

But towards three o'clock Gervaise abruptly jumped out of bed, shivering and oppressed with anguish.