quelle drôle d'idée ! ' what an odd idea ! ' This con

struction is remarkable ; compare ce diable d'hom.me, quel chien de temps ! ( = what ugly weather), etc. Note that the noun following de governs the gender of drôle, as in un drôle d'homme.. Note also that drôle has frequently the meaning of 'scamp,' 'scoundrel,' particularly when used as an ordinary substantive : le drôle a été pris.

10. Monsieur Poitrinas in this speech begins to announce to the audience that the subject of satire in this scène is the antiquary, by no means a new subject of satire in literature.

46 Notes.

Page. Lise.