Monsieur and Madame Grégoire live with their 18-year-old daughter Cécile on a property called La Piolaine, near Montsou. The family usually sleeps late, but today Monsieur Grégoire and his wife are up early to check on damage from the previous night’s windstorm. Madame Grégoire suggests the cook, Mélanie, make brioche for Cécile, who can enjoy it with chocolate when she awakens. Monsieur and Madame go upstairs to dote over Cécile, lamenting that the wind kept her up, then tiptoe out so that she can sleep as long as she desires.

Baron Desrumaux, the original owner of La Piolaine, founded the Montsou Mining Company after discovering coal at Montsou and merging with two competitors. A steward, Honoré Grégoire, purchased stock in the company. It did not begin to rise in value until the time of Léon, the current M. Grégoire, whose father Félicien purchased La Piolaine from the State after it had been confiscated during the French Revolution. Eventually, the stock began to yield great dividends, off which the Grégoires, loath to “tempt fate” (80) by selling the stock, live. He and his wife live a comfortable, “well-regulated life” (80).

Cécile emerges, and the household laughs at how long she slept.