Note 10 — PREMIER ÉPISODE
Reading edition · Edition 2
15 chapter heading Shang-Hai 'Shanghai,' a seaport in China--haut commerce 14 5, cf. haute finance 'high finance' transl. Simply. 'commerce'--Tartares (Tatares) 'Tartars' ('Tatars'), a generic term for certain Mongolian tribes The Manchu Tatars were till recently rulers of China--serait-il ? 'is it possible that he be ?' Note the use of the conditional to express conjecture or possibility, the future is used in similar constructions il aura manque le train 'he has probably missed the train 'cf. auriez vous l'intention (76 8) 'is it possible that you intend?'