From 1840 to 1844 they had three children.

Francois remained in his uncle's employ until the latter retired.

Pierre had desired to sell him the business, but the young man knew what small chance there was of making a fortune in trade at Plassans; so he declined the offer and repaired to Marseilles, where he established himself with his little savings.
[*] Both Francois and Marthe figure largely in _The Conquest of Plassans_.
Macquart soon had to abandon all hope of dragging this big industrious fellow into his campaign against the Rougons; whereupon, with all the spite of a lazybones, he regarded him as a cunning miser.

He fancied, however, that he had discovered the accomplice he was seeking in Mouret's second son, a lad of fifteen years of age.

Young Silvere had never even been to school at the time when Mouret was found hanging among his wife's skirts.