[9], 11. l’on vous a souvent donné, à vous autres abbés de boudoir: ‘favors have often been granted to you boudoir abbés.’ Notice the idiomatic use of autres, which is not to be translated.
12. dussiez-vous crier à l’ingratitude: ‘even if you must complain of my ingratitude.’
28. C’est jouer de malheur: ‘You are unlucky.’
Scène II
[10], 15. le cardinal de Fleury: André-Hercule (1653-1743). In 1726 he succeeded the duc de Bourbon as prime minister of France.
22. Voltaire. The comment ascribed to Voltaire is, of course, sarcastic, as is the remark of the princess, “moi aussi.”
24. je le crois de bonne foi: ‘I believe he is sincere.’
[11], 12. poudre dite de succession: ‘so-called inheritance powder.’ The practice of poisoning spread from Italy to France. During the latter part of the reign of Louis XIV there were numerous cases of poisoning among the French nobles. The name “inheritance powder” was applied to poison used to remove a person in order to gain possession of his inheritance.
13. le grand roi: Louis XIV.
14. chevalier d’Effiat: Antoine de Ruze, marquis d’Effiat (1638-1719). He was an equerry of Monsieur, brother of Louis XIV, and later held the same position under the Regent. He was accused of being one of the murderers of Madame, Henrietta of England. Louis XIV is said to have had proof of his guilt but to have permitted his escape.