They were playing at dominoes, and wore the common blue blouse of the mechanic class.

A woman stood by, paring celery, with an infant playing on the mat inside the door and a cat purring at her feet.

It was a pleasant group.

The men looked honest, the woman good-tempered, and the house exquisitely clean; so the diplomatic Brunet went forward to negotiate, while I walked up and down outside.

There were rooms to be let on the second, third and fifth floors.