“You see that? No one else can boast of having anything to match it. You can’t imagine all that’s in there. I mean, if they put into practice only half the ideas, it would clean up the social order overnight. That would be good medicine for your Emperor and all his stool pigeons.” The policeman’s red mustache and beard began to bristle on his pale face and he interrupted: “And the army, tell me, what are you going to do about that?” Lantier flew into a passion. He banged his fists down on the newspapers as he yelled: “I require the suppression of militarism, the fraternity of peoples. I require the abolition of privileges, of titles, and of monopolies. I require the equality of salaries, the division of benefits, the glorification of the protectorate. All liberties, do you hear? All of them! And divorce!” “Yes, yes, divorce for morality!” insisted Boche. Poisson had assumed a majestic air. “Yet if I won’t have your liberties, I’m free to refuse them,” he answered. Lantier was choking with passion. “If you don’t want them—if you don’t want them—” he replied. “No, you’re not free at all! If you don’t want them, I’ll send you off to Devil’s Island. Yes, Devil’s Island with your Emperor and all the rats of his crew.” They always quarreled thus every time they met. Gervaise, who did not like arguments, usually interfered. She roused herself from the torpor into which the sight of the box, full of the stale perfume of her past love, had plunged her, and she drew the three men’s attention to the glasses. “Ah! yes,” said Lantier, becoming suddenly calm and taking his glass. “Good health!” “Good health!” replied Boche and Poisson, clinking glasses with him. Boche, however, was moving nervously about, troubled by an anxiety as he looked at the policeman out of the corner of his eye. “All this between ourselves, eh, Monsieur Poisson?” murmured he at length. “We say and show you things to show off.” But Poisson did not let him finish. He placed his hand upon his heart, as though to explain that all remained buried there. He certainly did not go spying about on his friends. Coupeau arriving, they emptied a second quart. Then the policeman went off by way of the courtyard and resumed his stiff and measured tread along the pavement.