ACTE III, SCÈNE IX
1: Qu'est-ce que c'est que ça: this redundant expression implies surprise: What on earth have we here?—ça: again contemptuous. Perrichondoes not know the man, and is unfavorably impressed by a name which is, as a matter of fact, more frequently found among the peasantry than in the upper classes in France, and which is more closely connected with the gospels than with the army.
2: plus que vive: which could hardly be called complimentary. Lit., «more than sharp.»
3: un peu cruelle: because she gets people into trouble; exacting.
4: Loin de moi cette pensée: a very dignified phrase: Perish the thought!
5: ce n'est pas malheureux: and a good thing, too! Cf. acte I, scène VIII, note 2.
6: Mathieu: for the inference from the name, see acte III, scène IX.
7: moustaches: Napoleon III set the fashion, compulsory in the army, of wearing no other hair on the face than a mustache and a small chin tuft called impériale. Of course, an army man might wear none at all, but such a thing was unusual.
8: la Malmaison: a village and pretty park, close to and southwest of Paris.
9: des meubles: this implies that the Major has made it up with Anita, and is about to set up housekeeping.—J'ai bien l'honneur (de vous saluer): a courteous formula of leave-taking: I beg to bid you.