10: toujours: observe the three meanings of this word: 1. always; 2. still; and 3. anyhow. Tr., Still no Perrichon!—On dirait, etc.: He might be doing it on purpose! This use of the conditional of dire to express «one would say,» «it seems as though,» is very frequent andshouldbe clearly understood.
11: l'employé: i.e. the official who stands outside the ticket window, to see that passengers get the right tickets and change, etc. This manis referred to again at the end of Sc. 6.
12: Il sort par la gauche: get into the way of translating by the corresponding technical English: Exit left.
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.»