se rattraper. Lit 'to overtake themselves.' Render by

* retrieve.'

9. à dire. Render by Engllsh passive. 'This house is to le sold ' is cette maison est à vendre.

12. gagnait à la milice. Before the Révolution, ail who were not of the privileged orders of clergy or nobility had to draw lots to fill Dp vacancies in the army. The rich who drew a * black lot' bought 8ubstitutes. The first levy of recruits by Conscription, a word introduced into French when General Jourdan's project becaine law, September 5, 1798, vvas in 1799. Substitutes might be bought

78 Histoire oVun Paysan.

till after the war with Germany, 1870-71. Now every Frenchman must enter the array between the âges of eighteen and twenty.