He would beat Lydie as one beats one's lawful wife, and he profited by Bébert's credulity to send him on unpleasant adventures, amused at making a fool of this big boy, who was stronger than himself, and could have knocked him over with a blow of his fist.
Il battait Lydie comme on bat une femme légitime, et il profitait de la crédulité de Bébert pour l'engager dans des aventures désagréables, tres amusé de faire tourner en bourrique ce gros garçon, plus fort que lui, qui l'aurait assommé d'un coup de poing.