"I won't disturb you." Coupeau turned round, and took back the iron that Zidore was holding for him.

But just as the concierge was moving off, she caught sight of Gervaise on the other side of the way, holding Nana by the hand.

She was already raising her head to tell the zinc-worker, when the young woman closed her mouth by an energetic gesture, and, in a low voice, so as not to be heard up there, she told her of her fear: she was afraid, by showing herself suddenly, of giving her husband a shock which might make him lose his balance.

During the four years, she had only been once to fetch him at his work.

That day was the second time.