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follow her and make fast the door； but they could not keep out Leander；
who was there as soon as they。 However； the princess； believing herself
alone with her confidante：
〃Abricotina；〃 said she； 〃tell me truly； did you exaggerate in your
description of the unknown prince； for methinks it is impossible he should
be as amiable as you say？〃
〃Madam；〃 replied the damsel； 〃if I have failed in anything； it was ln
coming short of what was due to him。〃
The princess sighed and was silent for a time； then resuming her
speech： 〃I am glad；〃 said she； 〃thou didst not bring him with thee。〃
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〃But； madam；〃 answered Abricotina； who was a cunning girl； and
already penetrated her mistress' thoughts； 〃suppose he had come to admire
the wonders of these beautiful mansions； what harm could he have done us？
Will you live eternally unknown in a corner of the world； concealed from
the rest of human kind？ Of what use is all your grandeur； pomp；
magnificence； if nobody sees it？〃
〃Hold thy peace； prattler；〃 replied the princess； 〃and do not disturb that
happy repose which I have enjoyed so long。〃
Abricotina durst make no reply； and the princess； having waited her
answer for some time； asked her whether she had anything to say。
Abricotina then said she thought it was to very little purpose her mistress
having sent her picture to the courts of several princes； where it only
served to make those who saw it miserable； that every one would be
desirous to marry her； and as she could not marry them all； indeed none of
them； it would make them desperate。
〃Yet； for all that；〃 said the princess； I could wish my picture were in
the hands of this same stranger。〃
〃Oh； madam；〃 answered Abricotina； 〃is not his desire to see you
violent enough already？ Would you augment it？〃
〃Yes；〃 cried the princess； 〃a certain impulse of vanity； which I was
never sensible of till now； has bred this foolish fancy in me。〃
Leander heard all this discourse； and lost not a tittle of what she said；
some of her expressions gave him hope； others absolutely destroyed it。
The princess presently asked Abricotina whether she had seen anything
extraordinary during her short travels。
〃Madam；〃 said she； 〃I passed through one forest where I saw certain
creatures that resembled little children： they skip and dance upon the trees
like squirrels； they are very ugly； but have wonderful agility and address。〃
〃I wish I had one of them；〃 said the princess； 〃but if they are so nimble
as you say they are； it is impossible to catch one。〃
Leander； who passed through the same forest； knew what Abricotina
meant； and presently wished himself in the place。 He caught a dozen of
little monkeys； some bigger； some less； and all of different colors； and
with much ado put them into a large sack； then； wishing himself at Paris；
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where； he had heard； a man might have everything for money； he went and
bought a little gold chariot。 He taught six green monkeys to draw it； they
were harnessed with fine traces of flame… colored morocco leather。 He
went to another place； where he met with two monkeys of merit； the most
pleasant of which was called Briscambril； the other Pierceforestboth very
spruce and well educated。 He dressed Briscambril like a king and placed
him in the coach； Pierceforest he made the coachman； the others were
dressed like pages； all which he put into his sack； coach and all。
The princess not being gone to bed； heard a rumbling of a little coach
in the long gallery； at the same time； her ladies came to tell her that the
king of the dwarfs was arrived； and the chariot immediately entered her
chamber with all the monkey train。 The country monkeys began to show a
thousand tricks； which far surpassed those of Briscambril and Pierceforest。
To say the truth； Leander conducted the whole machine。 He drew the
chariot where Briscambril sat arrayed as a king； and making him hold a
box of diamonds in his hand； he presented it with a becoming grace to the
princess。 The princess' surprise may be easily imagined。 Moreover；
Briscambril made a sign for Pierceforest to come and dance with him。 The
most celebrated dancers were not to be compared with them in activity。
But the princess； troubled that she could not guess from whence this
curious present came； dismissed the dancers sooner than she would
otherwise have done； though she was extremely pleased with them。
Leander； satisfied with having seen the delight the princess had taken
in beholding the monkeys； thought of nothing now but to get a little repose；
which he greatly wanted。 He stayed sometime in the great gallery；
afterward； going down a pair of stairs； and finding a door open； he entered
into an apartment the most delightful that ever was seen。 There was in it a
bed of cloth…of…gold； enriched with pearls； intermixed with rubies and
emeralds： for by this time there appeared daylight sufficient for him to
view and admire the magnificence of this sumptuous furniture。 Having
made fast the door； he composed himself to sleep。 Next day he rose very
early； and looking about on every side； he spied a painter's pallet； with
colors ready prepared and pencils。 Remembering what the princess had
said to Abricotina touching her own portrait； he immediately （for he could
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paint as well as the most excellent masters） seated himself before a mirror
and drew his own picture first； then； in an oval； that of the princess。 He
had all her features so strong in his imagination that he had no occasion
for her sitting； and as his desire to please her had set him to work； never
did portrait bear a stronger resemblance。 He had painted himself upon one
knee； holding the princess' picture in one hand； and in the other a label
with this inscription； 〃She is better in my heart。〃 When the princess went
into her cabinet； she was amazed to see the portrait of a man； and she fixed
her eyes upon it with so much the more surprise； because she also saw her
own with it； and because the words which were written upon the label
afforded her ample room for curiosity。 She persuaded herself that it was
Abricotina's doing； and all she desired to know was whether the portrait
was real or imaginary。 Rising in haste； she called Abricotina； while the
invisible Leander； with his little red cap； slipped into the cabinet； impatient
to know what passed。 The princess bade Abricotina look upon the picture
and tell her what she thought of it。
After she had viewed it； 〃I protest！〃 said she； 〃'tis the picture of that
generous stranger to whom I am indebted for my life。 Yes； yes； I am sure it
is he； his very features； shape； and hair。〃
〃Thou pretendest surprise；〃 said the princess； 〃but I know it was thou
thyself who put it there。〃
〃Who！ I； madam？〃 replied Abricotina。 〃I protest I never saw the
picture before in my life。 Should I be so bold as to conceal from your
knowledge a thing that so nearly concerns you？ And by what miracle
could I come by it？ I never could paint； nor did any man ever enter this
place； yet here he is painted with you？〃
〃Some spirit； then； must have brought it hither；〃 cried the princess。
〃How I tremble for fear； madam！〃 said Abricotina。 〃Was it not rather
some lover？ And therefore； if you will take my advice； let us burn it
immediately。〃
〃'Twere a pity to burn it；〃 cried the princess； sighing； 〃a finer piece；
methinks； cannot adorn my cabinet。〃 And saying these words； she cast her
eyes upon it。 But Abricotina continued obstinate in her opinion that it
ought to be burned； as a thing that could not come there but by the power