Je pensais bien comme kà. — See note, page

Premier ban. — This and the next lines refer to the division into classes of those drawn in the conscription. The premier ban is the first class of the réserve.

46. Une . . . deusse. — For une, deux! The final x of deux is often heard (incorrectly) pronounced like ss to give it greater emphasis; this is

232 HISTOIBB d'un conscrit riE 1813.

probably done by the illiterate to préserve fhe analogy with dix and tix m which the x snould be pronoanced like «s whenever'they stand alone.

47. Pauvres diables. — Poor fellows. The Word diabU is very frequently ueed idiomatically in familiar lan^ua^e wi|;hout conveying the least idea of its English équivalent ; 'thos, wm diable^ good fellow.

JBras dessus bras dessous. — Arm in arm.