222.--7. conceptions premières. Numerals precede their
nouns; when _premier_ follows its noun, as here, the idea conveyed is
"cldquo;conceptions which form the basis of other conceptions."
12. durant. According to Littré, this preposition differs from
_pendant_ in that it means "dldquo;during the entire time," whereas pendant
may mean "aldquo;at a certain point during the time": _durant la campagne les
ennemis se sont enfermés dans leurs places_, and _c'est pendant la
campagne que s'est livrée la bataille dont vous parlez_.
227.--27. sans mot dire. Note the position of _mot_ in
this phrase; cf. _sans rien dire_.
229.--4. faquir. The fakirs or ascetic Mohammedan monks
comprise various classes and orders; Balzac apparently has in mind
those known as yogis, who assume and maintain for a long time various
unnatural postures, their belief being that this will effect a union of
the human soul with the Supreme Being, whereby further migration will be
avoided (this is known as the yoga system of philosophy).