The witness sank heavily on a chair.  He did not take off his hat, but began to stare around him, with the maudlin, stupid grin of drunkards and coarse people who know that they are insolent.  Felicite was so ashamed that she stood in front of the shop door in order that people outside might not see what strange company she was receiving.  Fortunately her husband came to the rescue.  A violent quarrel ensued between him and his brother.  The latter, after stammering insults, reiterated his old grievances twenty times over.  At last he even began to cry, and his companion was near following his example.  Pierre had defended himself in a very dignified manner.

“Look here,” he said at last, “you’re unfortunate, and I pity you.  Although you have cruelly insulted me, I can’t forget that we are children of the same mother.  If I give you anything, however, you must understand I give it you out of kindness, and not from fear.  Would you like a hundred francs to help you out of your difficulties?”

This abrupt offer of a hundred francs dazzled Antoine’s companion.  He looked at the other with an air of delight, which clearly signified:  “As the gentleman offers a hundred francs, it is time to leave off abusing him.”  But Antoine was determined to speculate on his brother’s favourable disposition.  He asked him whether he took him for a fool; it was his share, ten thousand francs, that he wanted.

“You’re wrong, you’re wrong,” stuttered his friend.

At last, as Pierre, losing all patience, was threatening to turn them both out, Antoine lowered his demands and contented himself with claiming one thousand francs.  They quarrelled for another quarter of an hour over this amount.  Finally, Felicite interfered.  A crowd was gathering round the shop.

“Listen,” she said, excitedly; “my husband will give you two hundred francs.  I’ll undertake to buy you a suit of clothes, and hire a room for a year for you.”

Rougon got angry at this.  But Antoine’s comrade cried, with transports of delight:  “All right, it’s settled, then; my friend accepts.”

Antoine did, in fact, declare, in a surly way, that he would accept.  He felt he would not be able to get any more.  It was arranged that the money and clothes should be sent to him on the following day, and that a few days later, as soon as Felicite should have found a room for him, he would take up his quarters there.  As they were leaving, the young man’s sottish companion became as respectful as he had previously been insolent.  He bowed to the company more than a dozen times, in an awkward and humble manner, muttering many indistinct thanks, as if the Rougons’ gifts had been intended for himself.