IX. MACHINES A VAPEUR

2. Depuis bien longtemps on cherchait, for a very long time attempts had been made ; lit., "since a very long time one was searching." Note the différence of idiom between the French and English.

3. eût fait, subjunctive used, instead of conditional, to express an assumed conclusion of a condition unexpressed.

Page 17. — 1. Blois, a town situated on the river Loire about 110 miles southwest of Paris.