Bibi-the-Smoker flew into a passion.

He had worked at the Elysee; he had seen Bonaparte just as he saw My-Boots in front of him over there.

Well that muff of a president was just like a jackass, that was all! It was said that he was going to travel about in the direction of Lyons; it would be a precious good riddance of bad rubbish if he fell into some hole and broke his neck.

But, as the discussion was becoming too heated, Coupeau had to interfere.
"Ah, well! How simple you all are to quarrel about politics.

Politics are all humbug! Do such things exist for us?
Let there be any one as king, it won't prevent me earning my five francs a day, and eating and sleeping; isn't that so?
No, it's too stupid to argue about!" Lorilleux shook his head.