“Here, gentlemen, I must beg you to allow me to hide my face for a moment.  What I said was evidently not strictly correct, and I am rather ashamed of it; my excuse must be that I was young, that Patata’s was a celebrated place, of which I had heard wonderful things said, but the entry to which was barred me, on account of my small means.  Five napoleons was the price!  Fancy!  I could not treat myself to it, and so I accepted the good lady’s offer.  I do not say that it was not disagreeable, but what was I to do?  And then, the old woman was a German, and so her five napoleons were a slight return for our five milliards, which we paid them as our war indemnity.

“Well, Patata’s boarder was charming, the old woman was not too troublesome, and your humble servant did his best to sustain the ancient glory of Frenchmen.

“Let me drink my disgrace to the dregs!  On the next day but one after, I was waiting at the statue of Perseus.  It was shameful, I confess, but I enjoyed the partial restitution of the five milliards, and it is surprising how a Frenchman loses his dignity, when he is traveling.

“The good lady made her appearance at the appointed time.  It was quite dark, and I followed her without a word, for, after all, I was not very proud of the part I was playing.  But if you only knew how fair that little girl at Patata’s was!  As I went along, I thought only of her, and did not pay any attention to where we were going, and I was only roused from my reverie by hearing the old woman say:  ’Here we are.  Try and be as entertaining as you were the day before yesterday.’

“We were not outside Patata’s house, but in a narrow street running by the side of a palace with high walls, and in front of us was a small door, which the old woman opened gently.

“For a moment I felt inclined to draw back.  Apparently the old hag was also ardent on her own account!  She had me in a trap!  No doubt she wanted in her turn to make use of my small talents!  But, no!  That was impossible!

“‘Go in!  Go in!’ she said.  ’What are you afraid of?  My mistress is so pretty, so pretty, much prettier than the little girl of the other day.’  So it was really true, this story out of The Arabian Nights?  Why not?  And after all, what was I risking?  The good woman would certainly not injure me, and so I went in, though somewhat nervously.

“Oh!  My friend, what an hour I spent then!  Paradise! and it would be useless, impossible to describe it to you!  Apartments fit for a princess, and one of those princesses out of fairy tales, a fairy herself.  An exquisite German woman, exquisite as German women can be, when they try.  An Undine of Heinrich Heine’s, with hair like the Virgin Mary’s, innocent blue eyes, and a skin like strawberries and cream.

“Suddenly, however, my Undine got up, and her face convulsed with fury and pride.  Then, she rushed behind some hangings, where she began to give vent to a flood of German words, which I did not understand, while I remained standing, dumbfounded.  But just then, the old woman came in, and said, shaking with fear:  ’Quick, quick; dress yourself and go, if you do not wish to be killed.’