ACTE II, SCÈNE VII
1: plus vrai que nature: an expression, not infrequent in French, for which we have no ready equivalent. It means: «He is a truer example (of ideal ingratitude) than nature (usually) affords.» If that does not beat all!
2: ne vous gênez pas: Do as you please. Lit., «Do not put yourself out (for us).»
3: r, e, re; just as we might say: «S, e, e: see.»
ACTE II, SCÈNE VIII
1: sortir: i.e. from their room.
2: Faîtes-moi servir: observe the great politeness that characterizes the Major throughout. He begs the innkeeper to «have a cherry-brandy served him,» not to bring it himself.
3: tout: before en and the present participle, merely emphasizes the fact that the two actions are simultaneous.
4: Vous n'auriez pas: You do not happen to have? This idiomatic use of the conditional present implies that a less favorable answer is expected than if the indicative had been used.
5: Aussi: see acte II, scène IV, note 6.