[20] la clef du faubourg Saint-Germain, see note #5.
[21] M. le marquis; when monsieur precedes a title of any sort it is not to be translated. In phrases of address, the name is to be supplied in translating, if omitted after the title; and often such phrases can be rendered in English only by the use of the third person.
[22] acte de naissance; in France and Germany a very careful register of births is kept, and a certificate of birth is required by law at the time of marriage.
[23] de mémoire d'homme, within the memory of man.
[24] qui en vint à souhaiter tout de bon, who came at last to really and truly wish.
[25] Je ne m'en connaissais pas, I was not aware of any.
[26] espalier; in continental Europe, and in some parts of England, the branches of domestic fruit-trees are usually trained along walls where the fruit will have the most favorable exposure.
[27] où prenez-vous Kerpry? where is K. anyway?
[28] que m'importe à moi, what's the difference to me; à moi simply repeats m' for emphasis.
[29] mis en vente comme biens d'émigré; at the time of the revolution, the property of those who fled from the country for political reasons was confiscated by the state and put up at auction sale.