eared in a trice. The whole court said no cat ever ate with
a better appetite. There were excellent ragouts, and the prince made
use of the cat's paw to taste them; but he sometimes pulled his paw
too roughly, and Bluet, not understanding raillery, began to mew and be
quite out of patience. The princess observing it, "Bring that fricassee
and that tart to poor Bluet," said she; "see how he cries to have them."

Leander laughed to himself at the pleasantness of this adventure; but he
was very thirsty, not being accustomed to make such large meals without
drinking. By the help of the cat's paw he got a melon, with which he
somewhat quenched his thirst; and when supper was quite over, he went to
the buffet and took two bottles of delicious wine.

The princess now retired into her boudoir, ordering Abricotina to 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 in
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."

"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 o