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which the gipsies are described in Parisian slang。 This is a corruption of
/romane tchave/〃gipsy lads。〃 But a piece of etymology of which I am
really proud is that of the word /frimousse/； 〃face；〃 〃countenance〃a word
which every schoolboy uses； or did use； in my time。 Note； in the first place；
the Oudin； in his curious dictionary； published in 1640； wrote the word
/firlimouse/。 Now in /Romany/； /firla/； or /fila/； stands for 〃face；〃 and has
the same meaningit is exactly the /os/ of the Latins。 The combination of
/firlamui/ was instantly understood by a genuine gipsy； and I believe it to
be true to the spirit of the gipsy language。
I have surely said enough to give the readers of Carmen a favourable
idea of my /Romany/ studies。 I will conclude with the following proverb；
which comes in very appropriately： /En retudi panda nasti abela macha/。
〃Between closed lips no fly can pass。〃
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