No one need take offence.

The aristocrats can drink sugar-and-water." And as the zinc-worker commenced another sermon, the other, who had risen on his legs, gave himself a slap, exclaiming: "Come, let's have no more of that, my boy! Waiter, two quarts of your aged stuff!" So Coupeau said very well, only they would settle for the dinner at once.

It would prevent any disputes.

The well-behaved people did not want to pay for the drunkards; and it just happened that My-Boots, after searching in his pockets for a long time, could only produce three francs and seven sous.

Well, why had they made him wait all that time on the Route de Saint-Denis?
He could not let himself be drowned and so he had broken into his five-franc piece.