336 THE INVISIBLE PRINCE.

As soon as Leander had hid the picture, he returned for he
took great delight in hearing and seeing his incomparable mis-
tress ; he ate every day at her table with the tabby cat, who
fared never the worse for that: but Leander’s 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 fine things; and in
the present situation of her heart she wanted amusement. One
day when she was attended by all her nymphs, she was saying
to them it would give her great pleasure to know how the ladies
were drest in all the courts of the universe, that she might
choose the most genteel. 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, and in three days he travelled
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 locked to himself. When
he had thus collected together all the rarities he could meet
with, for he never wanted money, his rose always supplying
him, he went and bought five or six dozen of dolls, which he
caused to be dressed at Paris, which is the only placein the world
where most regard is paid to fashions, They were all dressed
variously, and as magnificent as could be ; and Leander placed
them all in the princess’s closet. When she entered it she was
never more agreeably surprised, to see such a company of little
mutes, with every one a present of 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, for her idea of the first made her