This afternoon, however, she yielded to the impulse.

She took an empty basket and went out under the pretext of going for the petticoats of her customer on Rue des Portes-Blanches.

Then, when she reached Rue Marcadet, she walked very slowly in front of the bolt factory, hoping for a lucky meeting.

Goujet must have been hoping to see her, too, for within five minutes he came out as if by chance.
"You have been on an errand," he said, smiling.

"And now you are on your way home." Actually Gervaise had her back toward Rue des Poissonniers.