Poznámky
Oedipus Rex: a new production of Sophocles's tragedy at the Comédie-Française, one of the major theatrical events of the 1881 season. ↩
Mounet-Sully (1841–1916): Jean-Sully Mounet, one of the foremost tragic actors of the age at the Comédie-Française, celebrated for his performances of classical and Shakespearean roles. Marie finds his manner in ordinary life disappointing but his stage presence in classical robes magnificent. ↩
Amanda: from the Latin amanda, meaning "she who is to be loved" or "lovable." Marie's jibe is that this old spinster ill-befits a name so charged with romance. ↩
Marie is writing the note in the voice of Amanda Sidval, signing it with Amanda's name — a mock-classical verse in the high style of Greek tragedy, deliberately undermined by the colloquial Ou's qu'etais-tu (a vulgar contraction of Où est-ce que tu étais), creating comic bathos. ↩