He called for the newspaper, spread it out open before him, and looked through it, frowning the while.

Coupeau and My-Boots had commenced a game of piquet.

Two bottles of wine and five glasses were scattered about the table.
They emptied their glasses.

Then Lantier read out loud: "A frightful crime has just spread consternation throughout the Commune of Gaillon, Department of Seine-et-Marne.

A son has killed his father with blows from a spade in order to rob him of thirty sous." They all uttered a cry of horror.