ter as he had begun.

"Abricotina is ungrateful, madam," said he; "that poor stranger will die
for grief if he sees you not."

"Well, parrot, let him die," answered the princess with a sigh; "and
since thou undertakest to reason like a person of wit, and not a little
bird, I forbid thee to talk to me any more of this unknown person."

Leander was overjoyed to find that Abricotina's and the parrot's
discourse had made such an impression on the princess. He looked upon
her with pleasure and delight. "Can it be," said he to himself, "that
the masterpiece of nature, that the wonder of our age, should be
confined eternally in an island, and no mortal dare to approach her?
But," continued he, "wherefore am I concerned that others are banished
hence, since I have the happiness to be with her, to hear and to admire
her; nay, more, to love her above all the women in the universe?"

It was late, and the princess retired into a large room of marble and
porphyry, where several bubbling fountains, refreshed the air with an
agreeable coolness. As soon as she entered the music began, a sumptuous
supper was served up, and the birds from several aviaries on each side
of the room, of which Abricotina had the chief care, opened their little
throats in the most agreeable manner.

Leander had traveled a journey long enough to give him a good appetite,
which made him draw near the table, where the very smell of such viands
was agreeable and refreshing. The princess had a curious tabby-cat, for
which she had a great kindness. This cat one of the maids of honor held
in her arms, saying, "Madam, Bluet is hungry!" With that a chair was
presently brought for the cat; for he was a cat of quality, and had a
necklace of pearl about his neck. He was served on a golden plate with
a laced napkin before him; and the plate being supplied with meat, Bluet
sat with the solemn importance of an alderman.

"Ho! ho!" cried Leander to himself; "an idle tabby malkin, that perhaps
never caught a mouse in his life, and I dare say is not descended from
a better family than myself, has the honor to sit at table with my
mistress: I would fain know whether he loves her so well as I do."

Saying this, he placed himself in the chair with the cat upon his
knee, for nobody saw him, because he had his little red cap on; finding
Bluet's plate well supplied with partridge, quails, and pheasants,
he made so free with them that whatever was set before Master Puss
disapp