noon
However , on Monday , as Gervaise had a nice little meal planned for the evening , the remains of some beans and a pint of wine , she pretended to herself that a walk would give her an appetite . The letter from the asylum which she had left lying on the bureau bothered her . The snow had melted , the day was mild and grey and on the whole fine , with just a slight keenness in the air which was invigorating . She started at noon , for her walk was a long one . She had to cross Paris and her bad leg always slowed her . With that the streets were crowded ; but the people amused her ; she reached her destination very pleasantly . When she had given her name , she was told a most astounding story to the effect that Coupeau had been fished out of the Seine close to the Pont-Neuf .