vouloir de hère signifies ' to accept

26. Étampes, chef-lieu d'arrondissement, in the département of

Seine -et -Oise, 56 kilometers (about 35 miles) south-west of Paris. It has a population of about 8000 people. It is a much more important place than Arpajon. It has a collège, court, public library, hospital, etc. Its manufactories are in woollens, leather, soap, iron, machinery, etc. Its flour-mills are large. Etampes possesses very

42 Notes.

Page. LIne.

interesting spécimens of architecture in its churches oi Notre-Dame and Saint-Martiriy which date from the 12th century. There are also some remains of earlier periods. In the books on geography to which access has been had no mention is made of the Académie d^ÉtampeSy although it may hâve existed. At ail events, such académies are common enough in France, in imitation of the Institut, of which the most important part is the celebrated Académie française, founded by Richelieu in the reign of Louis XIII.

S. 28. voilà, 'that's'so !'

30. sobre, 'steady-going.' instruit, 'educated.' This pièce of irony prépares the audience for later developments.

4. 5. creuse. There is a jeit de mots hère which can hardly be reproduced in English. In line 5 the word signifies to 'ponder,' 'think deeply,' ' rack one's brains,' while in line 7 it signifies to *dig.'

7. A pan coupé is a surface which cuts off a corner. At the rear of the stage, in each corner, there is a door in the pans coupés by which the actors enter and retire. For a fuller understanding of the term, see the following expressions : — le pan dhme robe, un pan de mwr, une tour à huit pans, un salon à pans coupés, une cloison en pan de bois.

11. On reconnaît. The point of grammar referred to hère is generally considered by Frenchmen as one of the most difïicult in their language. It is illustrated in the wellknown example : la personne que fai entendue chanter.

14. j*en ai mal à la tête, * it makes my head ache.' Literally * I hâve headache on account of it.' Poor Caboussat, his situation is very entertaining to the spectator.