digitis), in which one player suddenly raises the hand of which some fingers are shut, and some are open. The other players have to guess the number of fingers raised.

[2] In most editions we find "et que tout le monde où serait cette monarchie florissante," which has no meaning. The correct reading is "et que tu me donnerais le monde où serait," &c.

[3] See 'Impromptu de Versailles,' Sc. i.

[4] Je suis bien tenté de te bâiller une quinte major. Quinte major is a term of piquet. It is here employed figuratively. Compare its use in 'Les Fâcheux,' Act ii. Sc. ii.

[5] This seems to be the meaning of "Je dédonne au diable l'escarcelle, si vous l'aviez fait." Je dédonne au diable is apparently a euphemism for Je donne au diable. In French, compare parbleu, corbleu, &c., and deuce, zounds, egad, &c., in English. Dédonne is not given by Littré. It occurs again in 'Le Médecin Volant,' Sc. x., but does not seem to have been employed elsewhere by Molière.

[6] Compare Sc. iv. 'Le Mariage Forcé.'

[7] Doc. 'Audi, quæso,' aurait dit Cicéron.
Bar. Si ce rompt, si ce brise, &c.

It seems necessary to ascribe the saying to Cæsar, rather than to Cicero, in order to render to some extent this fearful pun.

[8] An enchanted dwarf in the old romance of 'Valentine and Orson,' who manufactured a wooden horse, which could go very fast "Courir comme le cheval de Pacolet," remains as a proverb.