At first they entered into long explanations; evidently they were being approached from Réquillart. The gallery descended in the bed; perhaps several were being opened, for there were always three men hewing.
D'abord, ils s'étaient répandus en explications: on arrivait évidemment par Réquillart, la galerie descendait dans la couche, peut-etre en ouvrait-on plusieurs, car il y avait trois hommes a l'abattage.