Mother Coupeau had three children; if each one gave five francs it would only make fifteen francs, and really that was not enough, one could not live on it; they must at least triple the sum.

But Lorilleux cried out.
Where did she think he could steal fifteen francs a month?
It was quite amusing, people thought he was rich simply because he had gold in his place.

He began then to criticize mother Coupeau: she had to have her morning coffee, she took a sip of brandy now and then, she was as demanding as if she were rich.

_Mon Dieu!_ Sure, everyone liked the good things of life.

But if you've never saved a sou, you had to do what other folks did and do without.