At first they both indulged in vague complaints, then Felicite, who was surprised to find Macquart almost polite, after the violent manner in which he had behaved at her house on the Sunday evening, assumed a tone of gentle reproach.

She deplored the hatred which severed their families.

But, in truth, he had so calumniated his brother, and manifested such bitter animosity towards him, that he had made poor Rougon quite lose his head.
"But, dash it, my brother has never behaved like a brother to me," Macquart replied, with restrained violence.

"Has he ever given me any assistance?
He would have let me die in my hovel! When he behaved differently towards me--you remember, at the time he gave me two hundred francs--I am sure no one can reproach me with having said a single unpleasant word about him.

I said everywhere that he was a very good-hearted fellow." This clearly signified: "If you had continued to supply me with money, I should have been very pleasant towards you, and would have helped you, instead of fighting against you.