“What does this packet contain, darling?”

“It is the present I have got for you-my portrait, but you must not see it till I am in bed.”

“I will indulge you in that fancy, although I am very curious to see the portrait.”

“You will say I am right afterwards.”

I wanted to undress her myself, and she submitted like a lamb.  When she was in bed, she opened the packet, and shewed me her portrait, naked, and very like the naked portrait of M——­ M——.  I praised the painter for the excellence of the copy he had made; nothing was altered but the colour of the hair and eyes.

“It isn’t a copy,” she said, “there would not have been time.  He only made the eyes and hair black, and the latter more abundant.  Thus you have in it a portrait of the first and also of the second M——­ M——­, in whom you must forget the first.  She has also vanished from the clothed portrait, for you see the nun has black eyes.  I could shew this picture to anyone as my portrait.”

“You do not know how precious your present is to me!  Tell me, dearest, how you succeeded in carrying out your plan so well.”

“I told the country-woman about it yesterday morning, and she said that she had a foster-son at Anneci, who was a miniature painter.  Through him she sent the two miniatures to a more skilful painter at Geneva, who made the change you see for four or five Louis; he was probably able to do it in two or three hours.  I entrusted the two portraits to him, and you see how well he did his work.  The woman has no doubt just received them, and to-morrow she may be able to tell you more about it.”

“She is really a wonderful woman.  I will indemnify her for the expense.  But now tell me why you did not want me to see the portrait before you were in bed?”

“Guess.”

“Because I can now see you in the same posture as that in which you are represented.”

“Exactly.”

“It is an excellent idea; only love can have given it you.  But you must wait till I am in the same state.”

When we were both in a state of nature, exactly like Adam and Eve before they tasted the fatal apple, I placed her in the position of the portrait, and guessing my intention from my face she opened her arms for me to come to her; but I asked her to wait a moment, for I had a little packet too, which contained something she would like.  I then drew from my pocket-book a little article of transparent skin, about eight inches long, with one opening, which was ornamented with a red rosette.  I gave her this preventive sheath, and she looked, admired, and laughed loudly, asking me if I had used such articles with her Venetian sister.  “I will put it on myself; you don’t know how I shall enjoy it.  Why didn’t you use one last night?  How could you have forgotten it?  Well, I shall be very wretched if anything comes of it.  What shall I do in four or five months, when my condition becomes past doubt?”