“Did you intend undressing yourself?”

“Of course.”

“What an idea!  There are no sheets.”

“Do you sleep with your clothes on?”

“Oh, no!”

“Well, then, go to bed as usual, and you shall have the crown.”

“Why?”

“I want to see you undressed.”

“But you won’t do anything to me?”

“Not the slightest thing.”

She undressed, laid herself on her miserable straw bed, and covered herself with an old curtain.  In that state, the impression made by her dirty tatters disappeared, and I only saw a perfect beauty.  But I wanted to see her entirely.  I tried to satisfy my wishes, she opposed some resistance, but a double crown of six francs made her obedient, and finding that her only fault was a complete absence of cleanliness, I began to wash her with my own hands.

You will allow me, dear reader, to suppose that you possess a simple and natural knowledge, namely, that admiration under such circumstances is inseparable from another kind of approbation; luckily, I found the young Morphi disposed to let me do all I pleased, except the only thing for which I did not care!  She told me candidly that she would not allow me to do that one thing, because in her sister’s estimation it was worth twenty-five louis.  I answered that we would bargain on that capital point another time, but that we would not touch it for the present.  Satisfied with what I said, all the rest was at my disposal, and I found in her a talent which had attained great perfection in spite of her precocity.

The young Helene faithfully handed to her sister the six francs I had given her, and she told her the way in which she had earned them.  Before I left the house she told me that, as she was in want of money, she felt disposed to make some abatement on the price of twenty-five louis.  I answered with a laugh that I would see her about it the next day.  I related the whole affair to Patu, who accused me of exaggeration; and wishing to prove to him that I was a real connoisseur of female beauty I insisted upon his seeing Helene as I had seen her.  He agreed with me that the chisel of Praxiteles had never carved anything more perfect.  As white as a lily, Helene possessed all the beauties which nature and the art of the painter can possibly combine.  The loveliness of her features was so heavenly that it carried to the soul an indefinable sentiment of ecstacy, a delightful calm.  She was fair, but her beautiful blue eyes equalled the finest black eyes in brilliance.

I went to see her the next evening, and, not agreeing about the price, I made a bargain with her sister to give her twelve francs every time I paid her a visit, and it was agreed that we would occupy her room until I should make up my mind to pay six hundred francs.  It was regular usury, but the Morphi came from a Greek race, and was above prejudices.  I had no idea of giving such a large sum, because I felt no wish to obtain what it would have procured me; what I obtained was all I cared for.