comme pour le narguer : as if to tantalize him

37. Versailles. Versailles, west of Paris, is famous for its enormous palace and park constructed by Louis XIV. M. Bonnicar had tramped about fifteen miles to reach it.

38. tout le monde fut d'accord pour lui trouver une tête de scélérat : everybody agreed that he had the face of a scoundreL

39. FéUx Pyat — Delescluze. Félix Pyat and Louis Charles Delescluze were both prominent members of the Commune. When the insurrection was suppressed, the former saved his life by disgubing himself ; the latter was shot on the barricades, May 25. They were both about 61 years old at that time.