Madame Raquin had formed quite a motherly affection for him. She knew he was short of cash, and indifferently nourished, that he slept in a garret; and she had told him, once for all, that a seat would always be kept for him at their table.
Mme Raquin s'était prise pour lui d'une amitié maternelle; elle le savait gêné, mangeant mal, couchant dans un grenier, et elle lui avait dit une fois pour toutes que son couvert serait toujours mis à leur table.