reprenant ma liberté d'écrivain, remming my liberty

as a writer—i. e., laying aside the duties of " Directeur Général " of the Comédie Française.

38. voir de près, io dbtain a nearer view of; to eocamine more

elosdy,

8* — 10. Claretie, our author does not pronounce hîs name as thongh the last syllable were spelled aie, but retains the ordinary sound of L This caution is needçd, as this mîstake is often made.

9*-^ 8. Souligrnez, emphasiœ, lay stress upon. Lit., ' underline.'