plus tôt, the sooner

7. mieux cela vaudrait, the better it would be. Note, from this and the preceding phrase, the absence of the article in comparative phrases ; the same word being nsed for the comparative and superlative, the latter is distinguished from the former by the article. Note also the idiomatic use of valoir mieux instead of to be better when an advantage is indicated.

Je fis prier, I sent a request (see note on p. 4, 1. 13).

15. guichetiers, turnkeys (from guichet, the French form of -wicket, having ail the acceptations of the latter word).

24. que, except. There is in this line a play upon the Word pris, used idiomatically for mangé, i.c. I had had nothing to eat, I had takeu nothing but or except . . .

27. il n'y a rien qui tienne, nothing will do, or at ail costs. (Cf. qu'à cela ne tienne ! gi'anted ! or, be it so [let not that form an obstacle]).