"Try, just to satisfy yourself; pull my arm with all your strength; try it! harder than that, tug away, up with it! You see it's that louse Pere Colombe who's screwed me to his seat." Gervaise had humored him at this game, and when she let go of his arm, the comrades thought the joke so good that they tumbled up against one another, braying and rubbing their shoulders like donkeys being groomed.
The zinc-worker's mouth was so wide with laughter that you could see right down his throat.
"You great noodle!" said he at length, "you can surely sit down a minute.

You're better here than splashing about outside.

Well, yes; I didn't come home as I promised, I had business to attend to.

Though you may pull a long face, it won't alter matters.

Make room, you others." "If madame would accept my knees she would find them softer than the seat," gallantly said My-Boots.
Gervaise, not wishing to attract attention, took a chair and sat down at a short distance from the table.