le marché aux chevaux : the horse-market is situated

south of the Jardin des Plantes, in the angle formed by the

junction of the Boulevards de l'Hôpital and St- Marcel. ,, 10. Poissy, a town in the department of Seine-et-Oise (capital

Versailles), has a station on the Paris-Rouen railway, and a

large cattle and sheep market.

,, 23. Toulon, a seaport in the department of Var, is the second

naval station in France, and the chief station of the Méditer-

ioo Contes Choisis

Page line

ranean fleet. There are two inner harbours, called the Old or Mercantile Harbour and the Naval or New Harbour. By the naval port are the bagne or convict-house and the hospital for convicts. Since Coppée wrote this story, convicts hâve ceased to be sent to the bagne and are taken to Nouméa instead. This change was effected in 1873.

42. 23. le boulet au pied : convicts and deserters are condemned

to hâve a heavy bail attached to their foot by a chain about

2| yards long, in order to prevent their escape. ,, 25. Trafalgar : the battle of Trafalgar was fought in 1805. ,, 29. Vernon, a town of about 8000 inhabitants, in the depart-

ment of Eure, has a station on the Paris-Rouen railway, and

stands on the left bank of the Seine.

, , 30. la rivière : i. e. the Seine.