six o'clock
Oh yes , it was a capital place for rheumatism , but of course if her mind was made up anything she could say would make no difference . That night Gervaise told her husband that if he had thrown any obstacles in the way of her taking the shop she believed she should have fallen sick and died , so great was her longing . But before they came to any decision they must see if a diminution of the rent could be obtained . `` We can go tomorrow if you say so , '' was her husband 's reply ; `` you can call for me at six o'clock . '' Coupeau was then completing the roof of a three-storied house and was laying the very last sheets of zinc . It was May and a cloudless evening . The sun was low in the horizon , and against the blue sky the figure of Coupeau was clearly defined as he cut his zinc as quietly as a tailor might have cut out a pair of breeches in his workshop .