Rire sous cape (or, sous sa coiffe) = To laugh in one’s sleeve (generally of women. See [Barbe].)
N’avoir que la cape et l’épée = To be titled but penniless (generally used of young officers who have nothing but their pay).
Roman de cape et d’épée = A romantic, melodramatic tale (e.g. Dumas, Les Trois Mousquetaires).
Caque
*La caque sent toujours le hareng = What is bred in the bone will never come out of the flesh.
[“You may break, you may shatter the vase, if you will,
But the scent of the roses will hang round it still.”
Moore, Farewell.]
Caractère
Il a le caractère bien fait = He is always good-tempered.
Il a le caractère mal fait = He cannot take a joke.