The truffle salad, the ice, the dessert, everything was swallowed without being at all appreciated amidst the rising anger of the quarrel; and the chambertin and sparkling moselle were imbibed as if they had merely been water.

La salade de truffes, la glace, le dessert, tout fut avalé sans joie, dans la colère montante de la querelle; et le chambertin, et le vin de la Moselle, passèrent comme de l’eau pure.

Zola, Emile / His MasterpieceZola, Emile / L'Oeuvre

L'Oeuvre

Zola, Emile

His Masterpiece

Zola, Emile

He had also invited Trublot and Gueulin— four men and no women — for women do not know how to eat; they interfere with the truffles, and spoil digestion.

Il avait amené en outre Trublot et Gueulin, quatre hommes et pas de femmes, car les femmes ne savent pas manger: elles font du tort aux truffes, elles gâtent la digestion.

Zola, Emile / Pot-BouilleZola, Emile / Pot-Bouille

Pot-Bouille

Zola, Emile

Pot-Bouille

Zola, Emile