Une occupation bourgeoise. — See XXIIL

1. La première affaire a laquelle il avait assisté. — The first engagement at which he was présent. This particular phrase might possibly be translatée! in which he took part, since a secondary meaning of assister is to assist, to help ; but its primary and common signification is to be présent at, to attend. Assist, used in this sensé, is a gallicism found in Prescott and other English writers.

2. Croix. — This word, when thus used alone, generally refers to the Cross of the Légion of Honor, unless something in the context indicates the contrary. See XXXIL, 25.

3. Se détacha en noir sur le disque éclatant. — Stood out, a black mass, against the bright disk. Se détacher, in painting, means to stand out in

relief, to be brought out, to be apparent, detached, projected. The cause of this projection is often alluded to by adding such phrases as en noir, en clair (in light, clearness). A. parut se détachant en clair sur le fond sombre, A. appeared standing out in bold relief from the dark background. — Gautier. Eclatant is from éclat, see note 10 of this pièce.

4. // en coûtera bon. — It will cost us dear. The force of en in en coûter is explained XIII., 12.

5. Mais le sommeil me tint rigueur. — But still sleep refused to corne. Tenir rigueur a quelqu'un is to treat any one with rigor, to bear him a grudge, to use him harshly, to be severe upon a person, hence not to accède to his wishes. Figuratively, it is applied to things which offer résistance, as in our example.