The Princess had a taste for everything that was beautiful. In the present state of her heart she needed amusement. One morning when she was surrounded by her nymphs, she observed that she had a great desire to know how the ladies dressed in the various courts throughout the world, in order that she might select the most becoming and tasteful fashion for her own. Leander wanted no other inducement to range the universe. He pushed his little red hat almost over his eyes, and wished himself in China. He bought the richest stuff he could find there, and took copies of all the dresses. From thence he flew to Siam, where he did the same thing. In brief, he visited the four quarters of the world in three days; and as fast as he could load himself he returned to the Palace of Peaceful Pleasures, to hide what he had purchased in one of the apartments. When he had thus collected an infinite number of curiosities, (for money was nothing to him; his rose furnished him with it incessantly,) he went and bought five or six dozen dolls, which he had dressed in Paris; the place of all the world in which fashion has most temples. The dolls exhibited every variety of national habits, and all of unparalleled magnificence. Leander arranged them in the cabinet of the Princess.
When she entered nobody was ever more agreeably surprised. Each doll held a present in its hand; either watches, bracelets, diamond buttons, or necklaces: the most prominent bore a miniature case. The princess opened it, and found the portrait of Leander. Her recollection of the other painting enabled her to recognise it instantly. She uttered a loud exclamation! then looking at Abricotine, said to her, "I am at a loss to understand what has happened in my palace for some time past. My birds talk rationally. I seem to have only to form a wish to have it instantly accomplished. I have been twice presented with the portrait of the person who saved thee from the robbers; and here is a collection of rich stuffs, diamonds, embroideries, lace, and innumerable ether rare and costly things. Who is the fairy, or who is the demon, that takes the trouble to render me all these agreeable services?" Leander hearing her say this, wrote the following lines on his tablets, and threw them at the feet of the Princess:—
