le, i.e. indifférentes, E.B

1. 2. qu'il n'était déjà, E.B. 291. There is always a little difficulty as to the insertion of ne after a comparative when the first clause is negative. Here no stress is laid on the fact that he was already absent, and therefore ne is used in the second clause exactly as if it had followed an affirmative one.

1. 4. Il étouffait et il s'arrêta. Explain why the tense is changed. E.B. 172.