[14.1] =¿A qué ha venido?= 'For what has he come?' 'Why has he come?' This use of =a= is parallel to its use before an infinitive after =venir= and other intransitive verbs of motion. In this case =a= expresses purpose. [15.1] =se.= Ethical dative, best omitted in translation; analysis shows that the pronoun contains an idea of advantage, or at least of reference, to the subject. [15.2] =del botarate de su hijo= 'of his madcap of a son.' In Spanish, as in English, the preposition merely denotes that what follows is appositive. There is no change of identity. In Spanish, this construction is more comprehensive than in English: =el bueno de Juan=. Note =la ciudad de Madrid= 'the city of Madrid.' [15.3] =todo lo.= When =todo= precedes a verb of which it is the object, =lo= also must be used. When =todo= follows the verb, =lo= may be used, but is not required. See page 10, note 1. [15.4] =sin contar... con.= See vocabulary under =contar=, and see page 21, note 1. DE PEQUEÑAS CAUSAS _De pequeñas causas_... illustrates Benavente's satirical vein. It seems to have been written chiefly to amuse; but the plot amply allows for character study. The pettiness of the reason that finally induces Manuel to remain in the ministry reminds the listener or reader of the author's delight in details and in ironical situations. The Teatro de la Princesa, where the comedy was first performed, is on the Calle de Tamayo near the Paseo de Recoletos in Madrid. This theater is devoted to the production of high-class comedy. Contemporary press reports state that _De pequeñas causas_... was well received. The implication in the title is that from small causes proceed great results. [19.1] =está.= Supply =en casa=. [19.2] =para mí sí= 'for me he _is_'; cf. page 10, note 2. [19.3] =Nada.= Incomplete in itself; here we might translate: 'Don't say anything,' 'There's no use talking,' 'Not a word.' [19.4] =guste.= The personal use of =gustar=; see vocabulary. [20.1] =señor... señor.= The first =señor= refers to Manuel, and illustrates a conventional way in which servants address their masters; the second refers to González. On the stage the servant would make his reference clear by gestures. [21.1] =cuenta usted con= 'you have at your disposal.' The idiom =contar con= assumes many shades of meaning that are developed from the literal meaning 'count with' or 'reckon with.' When =contar con= occurs in this book, the list of translations in the vocabulary should be consulted, and the most suitable one chosen. [21.2] =¿a qué?= The personal =a= is used for clearness and emphasis. Cf. Ramsey, § 1318: "Verbs of naming, calling, considering, etc., may take two direct objects--the true object and the predicate or thing asserted. The true object takes the distinctive =a=." [21.3] =pasar por.= Distinguish here between the two meanings 'pass through' (_i.e._ 'go through with,' 'put up with') and 'pass for' or 'be regarded as.' Here =pasar por= means 'put up with.'