She had only been living in the rooms opposite the Goujets for two weeks.

Oh! everything was still a mess, but they were slowly getting it in order.
Then, still on the staircase, they finally told each other their names.
"Madame Coupeau." "Madame Poisson." And from that time forth, they called each other on every possible occasion Madame Poisson and Madame Coupeau, solely for the pleasure of being madame, they who in former days had been acquainted when occupying rather questionable positions.

However, Gervaise felt rather mistrustful at heart.

Perhaps the tall brunette had made it up the better to avenge herself for the beating at the wash-house by concocting some plan worthy of a spiteful hypocritical creature.

Gervaise determined to be upon her guard.