Note 15 — TROISIEME ÉPISODE

72 17 Et toute la diligence de rire: 'and the whole stage coach laughed', cf. the Latin historical infinitive, used in place of the perfect. In French this infinitive is always preceded by de and the clause is almost always introduced by et, là dessus, or a similar word.--trois cheveux de Cadet-Roussel: the popular song called Cadet-Roussel, 'Young Roussel,' was composed on the basis of a local song by a soldier in the Northern Army of the revolutionary forces about 1792. Cadet Roussel has three houses, three coats, three hats, three hairs (two for his face, one for his wig, and when he goes to see his lady he gathers the three into a braid), three dogs, and so on.