Every time Virginie began to talk Gervaise had the feeling Lantier was going to be mentioned.

So she had Lantier on her mind throughout all of Virginie's visits.

This was silly because, in fact, she didn't care a bit about Lantier or Adele at this time.

She was quite certain that she had no curiosity as to what had happened to either of them.

But this obsession got hold of her in spite of herself.
Anyway, she didn't hold it against Virginie, it wasn't her fault, surely.