He could not find his handkerchief, because it was in the pocket of the coat he had taken off, and he did not know where he had put the coat, and all the house had to leave off looking for his tools, and start looking for his coat; while he would dance round and hinder them.
Il l’avait retiré a l’instant : ou donc avait-il bien pu le poser ? Tout était momentanément suspendu ; les outils pouvaient attendre, chacun était tenu de se mettre incontinent a la recherche de ce fichu veston.