à tirer raiguille, '4n plying the needle

11. n'était vraiment pas pour inspirer, "was in truth-not calculated to inspire " ; an old form of expression, now become rare, and perhaps for that very reason singularly élégant. Supply/a/t after pas.

12. A cela près qu', " with the single exception that." 42. — 12. le courrier, '* the mail."

18. Quatre Septembre. On the 4th of September, 1870, the French Republic was proclaimed.