French Conversation and Composition
39. Le Drapeau du Tailleur
Souviens-toi de cela; souviens-
t'en.
A. 1. Do you want my cane? Here it is. I will lend it to you. 2. I need
my books; send them back to me when he gives[1] them to you. 3.
The bearer of the letter gives it to her. 4. When he found the letter,
he sent it to us. 5. Why don't you (familiar form) believe me when I
tell you so?[2] 6. I went to the poet's house to look for my servant,
and I found him there. 7. Send them there at once. 8. I shall send
them there. 9. If she is pretty, talk to her about it,[4] if not,[3] don't
talk to her about it.[4] 10. He has already told me something about it.
[4] 11. Have you seen the gypsies? There were two of them[4] in
front of the church; I spoke to them. 12. They predicted fortune for
me, but I told them I didn't need it. 13. But they picked my pockets
for[5] me. 14. The servant was leading him by the arm, as you
may[5] imagine (it[2]). 15. If you have good oysters, give me two
dozen (of them). 16. Give me also a dozen eggs. 17. There is a
bullet in the wound; when you find[1] it, give it to me. 18. The gypsies
tell her fine things, but she doesn't believe; them.
[Footnotes 1: future. 2: le. 3: si non. 4: en 5: omit.]
B. Word Study. In the following anecdote, substitute equivalents for
expressions in italics.
39. LE DRAPEAU DU TAILLEUR
Un tailleur étant tombé gravement malade eut un songe des plus
bizarres. Il lui sembla qu'il était sur le point de mourir et qu'il voyait
se dérouler à ses regards un énorme drapeau, formé de toutes les
pièces de diverses étoffes qu'il avait volées à ses clients. Au même
moment, il se réveilla en sursaut, baigné d'une sueur glacée. Le
tailleur considéra ce rêve comme un avertissement de sa
conscience, et il fit vœu, s'il guérissait, de remplir mieux son devoir.
II ne tarda pas à se rétablir, en effet, et comme il se défiait de lui-
même, il prescrivit à un de ses ouvriers de le faire ressouvenir du drapeau chaque fois qu'il couperait un habit. Notre homme, pendant