routine. — "Way of looking at things

1.34. cherchant Jor lune de ses chimères. — " Trying to make capital out of bis chimeras."

Page 19, line 6. s'était expliqué, etc. — " Had expressed himself formally in this matter, in a passage which they quoted in opposition to Columbus." See Gram., § 175.

1. 8. rien. — The origin of the French négatives rien, jxis, etc., is very interesting. They were ail positive words to begin with, and were merely added to the négative ne to strengthen it : — ne . . . , rien, " not . . . anything,"n6 . . . ;xis"not . . . a step" etc., but to-day they are the real négatives, so much so that often ia conversation the ne before the verli is often omittcd. However in interrogative phrases rien reoovers its original meaning of ''anything," as in this présent caae : " Is there anytiiing so absurd ?" See aJso jMige 24, liue 20.

Notes. 93

1. 8. que de. — " As to." This is a use of que very much like that referred to in Gram., § 502 (b).

1. 10. en. — There are only a few expressions in whiche»is used with the article. See Gram., § 614.