le procureur impérial, the Public Prosecutor

1. 21. il traita la société de Turc à More, he treated Society like a Turk (treats a Moor), i. e. harshly.

1. 22. en la trouvant marâtre, on finding it unkind (lit. like a step-mother).

1. 24. Ce Normand. The inhabitants of Normandy are popularly supposed to be of a somewhat sly and underhand disposition.

1. 25. son envie de p>arvenir, his désire to get on in the world.

1. 27. patelines, insinuatin^. The adjective is taken from the Old French farce oïMaistre Pierre Pathelhi, who by his wheedling succeeds in deceiving ail his opponents.

son esprit chicanier, his cavilling disposition.

1. 28. le plus rude ferrailleur judiciaire, the most skilful wrangler in matters of law.