Dormeuil. Probably a pun on dormeur , sleepy-head

Page 6. — 6. jeune fille. Simply girl. Fille, unmodified by jeune, means “ daughter,” but should never be so used to mean “ girl.”

11. costume de prétendu. Dardard was in formal evening dress, wishing to look his best when requesting Pontbichet to give him his daughter in marriage. It is to be remembered that, as a rule, marriages are made in France between the parents of the young people concerned.

13. Dumirac. A fictitious town, but composed in such a way that is is easily located, even if Dardard had not added “ près de Bordeaux." The ending -ac is typical of this portion of France, as witness the following towns: Podensac, Cadillac, Pauillac, Fronsac, Lussac, Bergerac (see text p. 17, 1. 9), Issigeac, Champagnac, Verteillac, Savignac, etc.