[192] GALON DE COULEUR, 'The fact that I wear livery.' The reference is to the braiding on the livery-coats worn by the retainers and domestics of the nobility in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, as well as at the present day. "Apres son deuil (the author speaks of Lauzun, who had gone into mourning for the Grande Mademoiselle), il ne voulut pas reprendre sa livree, et s'en fit une de brun presque noir, avec des galons bleus et blancs" (Saint-Simon, _Memoires_, I). [193] BUFFET, Side-table, on which are placed the dishes destined for table service, and on which they may be left after clearing the table. The servants probably often ate the 'leavings' at this table, which may have given rise to the term _buffet_ for the servants' eating-room, which is the sense in which the word is used here. Compare: "Je suis las d'etre bien battu et mal nourri... Je suis las enfin d'avoir de la condescendance pour vos debauches, et de m'enivrer au _buffet_, pendant que vous vous enivrez a table" (Regnard, _Attendez-moi sous l'orme_, Sc. l). [194] SUCCES = _Resultat_. [195] EN CONTEZ A. See note 38. [196] LE LANGAGE BIEN PRECIEUX. The use of the expression _du gout_, in the sense of 'a liking,' 'a fancy,' was much more _recherche_ in the eighteenth century than now. Hence Mario's feigned surprise at hearing such words from the lips of a supposed valet. Compare: "Gout, en galanterie, simple inclination, amusement passager, mot des gens de cour" (De Caillieres, 1690). [197] A LE BIEN PRENDRE, 'If you look at things rightly.' [198] PASSEZ, 'Overlook.' [199] LES, in later editions _mes_, which is evidently the better form. [200] EST BIEN AUSSI, for _tout aussi_. [201] QUE JE NE L'AIME. See note 137. [202] TON COEUR A DE CAQUET, 'How effusive your heart is.' [203] CELA VAUT FAIT = _C'est comme si c'etait fait: Regardez la chose comme faite_ (Dict. of the Academy, 1878). [204] IMPERTINENCE = _Mesalliance_. [205] ET IL EST TOUT AU PLUS UNI. The edition of Duviquet renders this passage as follows: "Et il est tout des plus unis." Larroumet explains it: "Et il est des plus ordinaires, c'est a dire que toute femme a un amour- propre semblable a celui-la." Translate: 'And it is the commonest (most ordinary) kind.' For _uni_ in this sense see Littre, 10 deg.. Compare: "Elle aurait cru se degrader par le soin de son menage, et elle ne donnait pas dans une piete si vulgaire et si _unie_" (_le Paysan parvenu_, 4e partie). [206] BIEN CONDITIONNEE, 'In pretty good condition,' 'pretty well turned (upset).' A peculiar use of this past participle. Duviquet translates it, "Une tete qui reunit toutes les conditions necessaires pour etre reputee sage, forte, bien puissante." I prefer to construe it: 'brought into the condition which Lisette desires,' that is to say, 'subject to her charms.' If the context were not clear enough, its use in line 13, below, would suffice to explain it.