In the afternoons he would take a walk if the weather was nice.

If it was raining, he would sit in the shop reading his newspaper.

This atmosphere suited him.

He always felt at his ease with women and enjoyed listening to them.
Lantier first took his meals at Francois's, at the corner of the Rue des Poissonniers.

But of the seven days in the week he dined with the Coupeaus on three or four; so much so that he ended by offering to board with them and to pay them fifteen francs every Saturday.