Sur ce motif. — My motive being

37. Pour avoir une contenance. — To look unconcerned ; literally, in order to hâve a (suitable) bearing, air, look. N'avoir point de contenance is to appear embarrassed, to be put out of countenance. The concluding words of this paragraph, car il s'agissait de nez, may perhaps be translàted, for this had something to do with the nose. See XXVIL, 19.

38. C'est le chat. — This is a popular and not very polite way of replying to a personal excuse, the truth of which one doubts ; as, le verre, ce n'est pas moi qui l'ai cassé — non, c'est le chat! I didn't break the glass — oh, of course not ! It may sometimes be translàted by the ironical expression, that's a likely story ! In fact, c'est le chat is really équivalent to I don't believe you ! or, that's a fib !

39. Pour la bonne règle. — To conform to my duty. En bonne règle means according to law, usage, or propriety.

40. J'en étais la, etc. — I had got so far when the vender of little cakes liappened to pass through the street. A few lines further on, je me fis un scrupule de means I had scruples about.

41. Ne tirait . . . pour son affaire. — Gathered from this circumstance no impression adverse to his interests. The concluding words of this sentence, ma gourmandise, implies no blâme, but means simply my love for good things. Compare this with the way in which adjective gourmand, dainty, is used in III., second stanza.

42. Sans . . . tranquillement. — Except for this inconceivable stupidity, I should hâve quietly learned my lessons. Another example, like that in note 31, of the imperfect used for the conditional, explained XXXVI., 17.

1. A la cantonade. — Outside. This word, from the Italian contonata, formerly denoted one of the sides or corners of the théâtre ; now it is used for the interior of the slips or slides. Parler a la cantonade is to speak to a person supposed to be behind the scènes.

2. Quand je te disais que nous avions le temps ! < — Didn't I tell you we had time enough !