[232] PAR LA VENTREBLEU, _Ventrebleu_, written also _ventrebieu_, is a euphemism for _ventre (de) Dieu_. A familiar interjection; admitted by the Academy, 1878. For the _la_, compare a similar corruption of _palsambleu_ (_par le sang [de] Dieu_) into _par LA sambleu_, and _corbleu_ (_corps [de] Dieu_) into _par LA corbleu_. [233] CASAQUE. Harlequin's loose upper garment or jacket. [234] SOUQUENILLE. A long outer garment of coarse cloth, worn especially by grooms in the care of their horses. [235] UN AMOUR DE MA FACON, 'A passion inspired by me.' [236] SUJET A LA CASSE, 'Apt to be thwarted.' _Casse_--literally 'breakage.' [237] FRIPERIE, 'Old clothes.' Used colloquially; as in English, 'duds.' [238] POUSSER MA POINTE, 'Carry out my purpose.' [239] LA MIENNE. Refers to _friperie_. [240] NOUS L'AVONS DANS NOTRE MANCHE. "Avoir une personne dans sa manche, En disposer a son gre" (_Dictionnaire de l'Academie francaise_). The expression, no doubt, is derived from the custom of using the full sleeves as a receptacle for all manner of objects to be carried about by the wearer at a time when pockets were not worn. It is still in vogue in certain cases-- military officers, for instance, carry their handkerchiefs in their left sleeve. Theophile Gautier, in his _Voyage en Italie_, speaks of giving to a couple of monks "quelques zwantzigs pour dire des messes a notre intention. Les bons peres prirent l'argent, le glisserent dans le pli de leur manche." [241] PATE D'HOMME. A familiar expression for 'sort of a man.' [242] VOUS M'EN DIREZ DES NOUVELLES, 'You will see that I am right.' See _Nouvelle_, Littre, 1 deg.. Compare: "(Madame Patin) Tu ne sais ce que tu dis. (Lisette) Vous m'en direz des nouvelles" (Dancourt, _le Chevalier a la Mode_, I, IX). [243] VOS PETITES MANIERES, 'Your rude manners.' By apposition to _les belles manieres_, the manners of a class above one's own. [244] NOUS VIVRONS BUT A BUT, 'We shall live on the same footing.' To understand Harlequin's impertinent remark, it must be remembered that while he is well aware of the real rank of both Lisette and Silvia, Dorante is still ignorant of it. Harlequin knows his master to be in love with the latter, and to be about to marry her, in spite of the apparently tremendous difference in rank, and allows himself a little sarcasm at the expense of his master. This attitude of the domestic towards his superior is not infrequent in the comedies of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. [245] PREVENU, 'Forestalled.' [246] CE N'EST PAS A MOI A ... DEMANDER. See note 7. [247] ENTENDEZ. _Entendre_ is here used for _comprendre_. [248] EST-CE A VOUS A VOUS PLAINDRE. See note 7. Some later editions print _de vous plaindre_. [249] VOUS RENDRE SENSIBLE. See note 153. [250] VOUS ETES SENSIBLE A, 'You share.' [251] JE N'Y TACHERAI POINT. This construction would not now be admissible. The modern form would be, _Je ne tacherai point de le faire_.