At other times Argensola saw her through the interior window working in the kitchen aided by her companion, the two laughing over their clumsiness and inexperience in preparing the Sunday dinner.
The concierge thought that this woman was a German, but she herself said that she was Swiss.

She was a cashier in a shop--not the one in which her husband was employed.

In the mornings they left home together, separating in the Place d'Etoile.

At seven in the evening they met here, greeting each other with a kiss, like lovers who meet for the first time; and then after supper, they returned to their nest in the rue de la Pompe.

All Argensola's attempts at friendliness with these neighbors were repulsed because of their self-centredness.