tom. The robber who introduces Gil Blas to the cavern, says,
"Tenez, Dame Leonarde, voici un jeune garcon," &c. Again, "On dressa
dans le salon une grande table, et l'on me renvoya dans la cuisine, ou
la _Dame_ Leonarde m'instruisit de ce que j'avais a faire.... Et comme
depuis sa mort c'etoit la _Senora Leonarda_ qui avoit l'honneur de
presenter le nectar a ces dieux infernaux," &c. This expression "Senora
Leonarda," is much in favour of a Spanish original; why should not Le
Sage have repeated the expression "Dame Leonarde," on which we have a
few observations to offer, had it not been that he thought the word
under his eyes at the moment would lend grace and vivacity to the
narrative. A French writer would have said, "Tenez, Leonarde," or
perhaps, "Tenez, Madame Leonarde;" but such a phrase as "Tenez, Dame
Leonarde," in a French writer, can be accounted for only by the
translation of "senora." So we have "la Senora Catalena," (7, 12)--"la
Senora Sirena," (9, 7)--and "la Senora Mencia," (8, 10) of the French
version, and instead of "une demoiselle," "une jeune dame," which is a
translation of "senorita." In giving an account of his projected
marriage with the daughter of Gabriel Salero, Gil Blas says, (9,
1)--"C'etoit un bon bourgeois qui etoit comme nous disons poli hasta
porfiar. Il me presenta la Senora Eugenia, sa femme, et la jeune
Gabriela, sa fille." Here are three Spanish idioms--"hasta porfiar,"
which Le Sage thinks it necessary to explain, "la Senora Eugenia,"
"Gabriela." Diego de la Fuente tells his friend, "J'avois pour maitre de
cet instrument un vieux 'senor escudero,' a qui je faisois la barbe. Il
se nommoit Marcos Dobregon." A French author, instead of "senor
escudero," would have said, "vieux ecuyer;" a Spanish transcriber would
have written "Marcos de Obregon." We have (x. 3, 11) "Senor Caballero
des plus lestes," "romances" instead of "romans," (1, 5,) "prado"
instead of "pre," twice, (4, 10; 7, 13.)

Laura says--"Un jour il nous vint en fantaisie a Dorothee et a moi
d'aller voir joner les comediens de Seville. Ils avaient affiche qu'ils
representaient _la famosa comedia_, et Embajador de si mismo, de Lope de
Vega Carpio.... En fin le moment que j'attendais etant arrive,
c'est-a-dire, la fin de _la famosa comedia_, nous nous en allames." We
have "hidalgo" instead of "gentilhomme" three times; "contador mayor"
twice, once used by Chinchillo, again by the innkeeper at Suescas,
"oidor" instead of "juge"