You understand, he went in for everything, and so well that at the end of two months we were cleaned out.

It was then that we came to live at the Hotel Boncoeur, and that this horrible life began." She interrupted herself.

A lump had suddenly risen in her throat, and she could scarcely restrain her tears.

She had finished brushing the things.
"I must go and fetch my hot water," she murmured.
But Madame Boche, greatly disappointed at this break off in the disclosures, called to the wash-house boy, who was passing, "My little Charles, kindly get madame a pail of hot water; she's in a hurry." The youth took the bucket and brought it back filled.

Gervaise paid him; it was a sou the pailful.