devait, were to. See note on page 5, line

Page 63. — 4. évitait de. See note on page 18, line 8.

22-25. Mais je . . . savant. In these lines Anatole France admits the value of method, which he usually denies.

31. A cela près. A . . . près, enclosing a word or phrase, indicates the measure within which a thing is accurate: à dix ans [six pouces] près, ‘ within ten years [six inches].’

Page 64. — -18. doivent, owe, the primary meaning of devoir, always found when devoir has a direct object.

23. la pitié, la souffrance. Anatole France regards suffering as the one certain thing in an illusory universe, as “the cornerstone of life.” To suffering, “we owe all that gives value to life; to it we owe pity, courage, all the virtues.” Pity is a very important element in his philosophy.