He knew what those works were in the church; everything was done with parsimony, but without much regard to time.

The workmen in the service of the church worked with that calm laziness, and that slow prudence which characterised every act of religion.

Besides, Silver Stick, knowing his condition, would reserve the least heavy work for him; he could fix screws and bolts, place the candelabra in line on the steps, and arrange the tapestry; he trusted him as a man of good taste who had seen much in his travels.
Gabriel worked for two weeks on the monument.

This time of relative activity seemed to give him a certain amount of relief.

He moved about, intent on giving orders to his fellow-workers; he went from the church to the top of the Claverias, where the monument was stored, and seeing himself covered with dust, and with his limbs fatigued by the constant coming and going, he deluded himself into thinking he was strong again.
During these two weeks he never went to the shoemaker's house, and so lost sight of his various friends.