à diverses reprises, ' after various vicissitudes

Page 34. 1. 26. professait la rhétorique, ' taught rhetoric' 1. 29. Bezout (1730-1783), was a celebrated mathematician and teacher of mathematics. He was the author of several mathematical textbooks. His Cours de Mathématiques à l'usage de la Marine is probably the book referred to hère.

régent de troisième, ' form-master of the third form.' 1. 39. une clientèle, ' a set.'

Page 35. 1. 9. n'était for si ce n'était, an expression in which pas is regularly dropped.

1. 17. à ne pas morguer, ' not to treat with suprême disdain.' 1. 30. je devins fort cinquième, ' I was high up in the fifth form.' 1. 38. exposant, 'exponent.'

Page 36. 1. 16. que je dodinais, * that I was nodding.'

Page 37. 1. 23. Saut des poissonniers, an old French dance. Cf. Saut de Bourdeaux {Bordeaux). Thèse sauts were very lively dances.

la Quintaine, * quintain.' It was an ancient military sport which'consisted originally of tilting at a post planted in the ground. In later times a wooden figure fixed on a pivot replaced the primitive post. It was so arranged that, unless the horseman used his lance with some dexterity, the figure swerved rapidly and struck him a violent blow in the back amidst the jeers of the spectators.

1. 24. V Angevine was a kind of cattle-fair held in the neighbourhood of a large château. The vassals bore the banner of their lord through the fair, and raised for his benefit a tax on each head of cattle.

Page 38. 1. 1. il y eut un projet de descente à Jersey. This was the period of the American War of Independence when both France and Spain were fighting on behalf of the revolted American States.