leep。 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 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 of magic。
〃And these words‘She is better in my heart；' 〃 said the princess； 〃must we burn them too？〃
〃No favor must be shown to anything；〃 said Abricotina； 〃not even to your own portrait。〃
Abricotina ran away immediately for some fire； while the princess went to look out at the window。 Leander； unwilling to let his performance be burned； took this opportunity to convey it away without being perceived。 He had hardly quitted the cabinet； when the princess turned about to look once more upon that enchanting picture； which had so delighted her。 But how was she surprised to find it gone！ She sought for it all the room over； and Abricotina； returning； was no less surprised than her mistress； so that this last adventure put them both in the most terrible fright。
Leander took great delight in hearing and seeing his incomparable mistress； even though he had to eat every day at her table with the tabby…cat； who fared never the worse for that； but his satisfaction was far from being complete； seeing he durst neither speak nor show himself； and he knew it was not a common thing for ladies to fall in love with persons invisible。
The princess had a universal taste for amusement。 One day； she was saying to her attend… ants that it would give her great pleasure to know how the ladies were dressed in all the courts of the universe。 There needed no more words to send Leander all over the world。 He wished himself in China； where he bought the richest stuffs he could lay his hands on； and got patterns of all the court fashions。 From thence he flew to Siam； where he did the same； in three days he traveled over all the four parts of the world； and from time to time brought what he bought to the Palace of Calm Delights； and hid it all in a chamber； which he kept always locked。 When he had thus collected together all the rarities he could meet withfor he never wanted money； his rose always supplying himhe went and bought five or six dozen of dolls； which he caused to be dressed at Paris； the place in the world where most regard is paid to fashions。 They were all dressed differently； and as magnificent as could be； and Leander placed them all in the princess' closet。 When she entered it； she was agreeably surprised to see such company of little mutes； every one decked with watches bracelets； diamond buckles； or necklaces； and the most remarkable of them held a picture box in its hand； which the princess opening； found it contained Leander's portrait。 She gave a loud shriek； and looking upon Abricotina； 〃There have appeared of late；〃 said she； 〃so many wonders in this place； that I know not what to think of them： my birds are all grown witty； I cannot so much as wish； but presently I have my desires； twice have I now seen the portrait of him who rescued thee from the ruffians； and here are silks of all sorts； diamonds； embroideries； laces； and an infinite number of other rarities。 What fairy is it that takes such care to pay me these agreeable civilities？〃
Leander was overjoyed to hear and see her so much interested about his picture； and calling to mind that there was in a grotto which she often frequented a certain pedestal； on which a Diana； not yet finished； was to be erected； on this pedestal he resolved to place himself； crowned with laurel； and holding a lyre in his hand； on which he played like another Apollo。 He most anxiously waited the princess' retiring to the grotto； which she did every day since her thoughts had taken up with this unknown person； for what Abricotina had said； joined to the sight of the picture； had almost destroyed her repose： her lively humor changed into a pensive melancholy； and she grew a great lover of solitude。 When she entered the grotto； she made a sign that nobody should follow her； so that her young damsels dispersed themselves into the neighboring walks。 The princess threw herself upon a bank of green turf； sighed； wept； and even talked； but so softly that Leander could not hear what she said。 He had put his red cap on； that she might not see him at first； but having taken it off； she beheld him standing on the pedestal。 At first she took him for a real statue； for he observed exactly the attitude in which he had placed himself； without moving so much as a finger。 She beheld with a kind of pleasure intermixed with fear； but pleasure soon dispelled her fear； and she continued to view the pleasing figure； which so exactly resembled life。 The prince having tuned his lyre； began to play； at which the princess； greatly surprised； could not resist the fear that seized her； she grew pale and fell into a swoon。 Leander leaped from the pedestal； and putting on his little red cap； that he might not be perceived； took the princess in his arms and gave her all the assistance that his zeal and tenderness could inspire。 At length she opened her charming eyes and looked about in search of him； but she could perceive nobody； yet she felt somebody who held her hands； kissed them； and bedewed them with his tears。 It was a long time before she durst speak； and her spirits were in a confused agitation between fear and hope。 She was afraid of the spirit； but loved the figure of the unknown。 At length she said： 〃Courtly invisible； why are you not the person I desire you should be？〃 At these words Leander was going to declare himself； but durst not do it yet。 〃For；〃 thought he； 〃if I again affright the object I adore and make her fear me； she will not love me。〃 This consideration caused him to keep silence。
The princess； then； believing herself alone； called Abricotina and told her all the wonders of the animated statue； that it had played divinely； and that the invisible person had given her great assistance when she lay in a swoon。
〃What pity 'tis；〃 said she； 〃that this person should be so frightful； for nothing can be more amiable or acceptable than his behavior！〃
〃Who told you； madam；〃 answered Abricotina； 〃that he is frightful？ If he is the youth who saved me； he is beautiful as Cupid himself。〃
〃If Cupid and the unknown are the same；〃 replied the princess； blushing； 〃I could be content to love Cupid； but alas！ how far am I from such a happiness！ I love a mere shadow； and this fatal picture； joined to what thou hast told me； have inspired me with inclinations so contrary to the precepts which I received from my mother that I am daily afraid of being punished for them。〃
〃Oh！ madam；〃 said Abricotina； interrupting her； 〃have you not troubles enough already？ Why should you anticipate afflictions which may never come to pass？〃
It is easy to imagine what pleasure Leander took in this conversation。
In the meantime the little Furibon； still enamored of the princess whom he had never seen； expected with impatience the retu