CHAPTER VII

1. 19. Pofficier est mort. This is not only in accordance with p. ft, 1. 20, but with de Vigny's own position as an ex-officer at the time of writing the book.

1. 29. des fanfarons de crimes. Probably alluding to Louis XIV.'s phrase about his nephew the Duke of Orleans. "Savez-vous, dît-il, ce que c'est que mon neveu? C'est un fanfaron de crimes," i.e. one who makes himself out a greater sinner than he really is. So the colonel was fanfaron de dureté, professed to be more hard-hearted than he was.

1. 30. maltraiter, not much more than 'to snub.' It is often used of a lady's indifference to a lover.

1. 31. corps de garde, properly the body of soldiers on guard, but often used of the 'guard-room.' Thus grosse flatterie de corps de garde means the flattery of a coarse-natured man, accustomed to the rough ways of the guard-room.

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