ACTE I, SCÈNE II
1: Dieu! que j'ai chaud: the student must not make the mistake of thinking that Dieu! and Diable! are anywhere near as strong in French as in English. Tr., My! but I'm hot! Carefully preserve the lack of refinement in the speech of both Mr. and Mrs. Perrichon.
2: Tiens: see List of Exclamations.
3: premières: the long expression un billet de première classe is shortened to une première classe, and indeed to: une première. Most European trams have first, second, and third class carriages, except the expresses.
4: rapides… Alpes: Mr. Perrichon's grandiloquence must be carefully brought out in translation.
5: son café: the small cup of black coffee after a meal, to the habit of which many people in France are slaves.
6: quand… compte: when you've got your figures straight… supply «you feel more comfortable.»
7: Nous sommes neuf: Mr. Perrichon comically counts the persons with the baggage, and the porter in the same vein replies, O.K.! lit., «Take (it) away!» the regular phrase used in the French baggage rooms, when a trunk has been duly weighed, by the man at the scales to the porter who has brought it and who will wheel it away.