For an instant he was immediately over the pavement, no long holding on, all absorbed in his work; and, from below, one could see the little white flame of the solder frizzling up beneath the carefully wielded iron.

Gervaise, speechless, her throat contracted with anguish, had clasped her hands together, and held them up in mechanical gesture of prayer.

But she breathed freely as Coupeau got up and returned back along the roof, without hurrying himself, and taking the time to spit once more into the street.
"Ah! ah! so you've been playing the spy on me!" cried he, gaily, on beholding her.

"She's been making a stupid of herself, eh, Madame Boche?
She wouldn't call to me.

Wait a bit, I shall have finished in ten minutes." All that remained to do was to fix the top of the chimney--a mere nothing.