à qui se fier? The elliptic use of the infinitive in

questions and exclamations is much more fréquent in

French than in English ; e.g. —

où aller ? ' where am I to go ? ' que faire f ' what is to be done ? '

7. quelle perfidie ! A debtor could easily ruin his creditors

by paying them in paper money, which, though depreciated, preserved its nominal value.

8. il a beau faire, ' do what he will.' Cf. p. 75 1. 8. II. élevant, for levant,

13. les actions, 'the shares.' This refers to the Mississippi Company, founded, under royal patronage, by the famous financial projector Law. The success of the Company was at first immense, and many large fortunes were made in a few days ; but the considérable quantity of paper- money issued depreciated the shares and soon brought about a terrible coUapse. Law had to flee from France, and died in poverty at Venice (1720).

à deux mille : livres is understood.

17. aussi a-t-il . ., ' and the fact is he has . .' ^?«« hère is

used for aussi bien.