Chapter 3 Summary

The narrator tells us that he's lived in the Coq d'Or quarter for about a year and a half, earning his living by giving English lessons. But one day in the summer, he realizes that his money is drying up. Shortly thereafter, an Italian robs the narrator and eleven other tenants at their hotel, and the narrator's money is nearly depleted.

He describes his first brushes with poverty, and how complicated poverty can be. He is living on six franks a day and has to stop sending out his laundry. He must ration his tobacco and watch how much he eats. He tries to keep up appearances, but it's very difficult, and not wanting to explain why he's cutting back on expenses, he offends people.

He continues to live on six franks a day for three weeks until he can afford that no...