Gervaise searched the chest of drawers to find a little brass crucifix which she had brought from Plassans, but she recollected that mother Coupeau had, in all probability, sold it herself.

They had lighted the stove, and they passed the rest of the night half asleep on chairs, finishing the bottle of wine that had been opened, worried and sulking, as though it was their own fault.
Towards seven o'clock, before daylight, Coupeau at length awoke.

When he learnt his loss he at first stood still with dry eyes, stuttering and vaguely thinking that they were playing him some joke.

Then he threw himself on the ground and went and knelt beside the corpse.

His kissed it and wept like a child, with such a copious flow of tears that he quite wetted the sheet with wiping his cheeks.