In the hallway he added a double door, with a "portiere" to the inner one.

The window was shaded by a blind which gave soft tones to the light.

If the poor mother's life was reduced to the plainest circumstances that the life of any woman could have in Paris, Agathe was at least better off than all others in a like case, thanks to her son.
To save his mother from the cruel cares of such reduced housekeeping, Joseph took her every day to dine at a table-d'hote in the rue de Beaune, frequented by well-bred women, deputies, and titled people, where each person's dinner cost ninety francs a month.

Having nothing but the breakfast to provide, Agathe took up for her son the old habits she had formerly had with the father.

But in spite of Joseph's pious lies, she discovered the fact that her dinner was costing him nearly a hundred francs a month.