ACTE VI, SCÈNE V
1: après: what of it?
2: plus les frais: when as here the mathematical plus is used, the final «s» is always sounded.
3: Je me plais à l'espérer: I should hope so, sir! Lit., «I fondly hope so.»
4: ils: the police of course.—M. Perrichon suddenly realizes that the police are not likely to be on hand two hours later than the appointedtime. Hence his immediate change of attitude.
5: Qu'avez-vous donc: this idiom, meaning of course «What is the matter?» must be so translated as to lead up to Perrichon's reply: What is it?—It is… it is… it is a noble thing, to my mind, toacknowledge, etc.
6: N'envenimez pas: Don't make matters worse!
7: de bonne grâce: of your own free will; lit., «with a goodgrace.»—échappées à votre improvisation: which fell from your unguardedpen; lit., «which escaped you while you were writing extempore,» withoutcareful consideration.
8: maintenant c'est la France: the ancient Duchy of Savoy had just (in 1860) been ceded to Napoleon III by the King of Italy, Victor Emmanuel, in acknowledgment of help received. Perrichon responds with a cheer in the words of his bombastic farewell of the first act: any thing for a diversion. Jean makes a jokes to which there is some depth: it seems less far away if it is within the borders of your own country. Alaska seems nearer now than it did when belonging to Russia.
9: je me recommande à vous: I trust you will bear me in mind.