He appeared to be very ignorant of French.

The doctor tried him, but he could not understand the doctor.

I asked this boatman to explain his conduct, which he did; and then I couldn't understand him.

Dan said: "Oh, go to the pier, you old fool--that's where we want to go!" We reasoned calmly with Dan that it was useless to speak to this foreigner in English--that he had better let us conduct this business in the French language and not let the stranger see how uncultivated he was.
"Well, go on, go on," he said, "don't mind me.

I don't wish to interfere.