29. ¡Pues poquito gusto que tendrá en verme! why, he will be simply delighted to see me! Poquito, "quite a little," "a good deal": the inflection of the voice and the context give the above meaning to poquito, rather than the usual "very little."
[6.]—2. ... Atilano Fuentesaúco; acuérdate de los garbanzos. Fuentesaúco is a town in the province of León, about twenty-five miles southeast of Zamora. Fuentesaúco and its neighborhood are known for the excellent quality of the chick-peas (garbanzos) raised there. Atilano jokingly implies that if Francisco will remember where the chick-peas are raised, he will not forget his (Atilano's) name.
7. llegan muy adentro, go far in, i.e., reach the heart.
12. lo de, see voc. under lo.—pobrecita, diminutive implying pity and affection; see note 4, 18.
[7.]—3. Raigoncillo; here the diminutive brings out the idea of affection (feigned, of course) and comradeship; you dear old Raigón approximates the Spanish.
5. Así lo entretenga dos horas, I hope to goodness he'll keep him for two hours; for lo, see note 2, 10.
18. Bien, pues usted dirá..., well, what do you wish? i.e., "come to the point."
19. ¿Qué es eso de usted? the idea of using "usted" with me! i.e., "you ought to 'thee-and-thou' me, you know me so well." Former schoolmates would hardly address each other with the formal usted, but Raigón is disinclined to recall his early friendship with Atilano, divining, doubtless, the purpose of the latter's visit.
22. bachillerato; the bachillerato is not to be confused with the degree of Bachelor of Arts conferred by reputable American colleges. It is a much more elementary course, more or less equivalent to that of our high schools, including, perhaps, some of the work of our Freshman and Sophomore years in college. Candidates prepare for the degree of bachiller in the public and private colegios and institutos. The degree itself is conferred after examination by the university.
[8.]—10. Ése sí que ha hecho suerte, that fellow certainly has been lucky!; sí may be used as an expletive to emphasize an assertion. It is usually followed by que, and is best translated by "yes," "indeed," "certainly," or by some form of the emphatic auxiliary "do."