and　returned　with　as　much　happiness　in　his　heart　as　mortal　man　can
  know。
  When　he　was　seated　in　his　armchair　beside　the　fire；　thinking　over　the
  sudden　and　complete　way　in　which　his　wishes　had　been　fulfilled；　a　cold
  shiver　went　through　him；　as　if　the　blade　of　a　dagger　had　been　plunged
  into　his　breasthe　thought　of　the　Magic　Skin；　and　saw　that　it　had
  shrunk　a　little。　He　uttered　the　most　tremendous　of　French　oaths；
  without　any　of　the　Jesuitical　reservations　made　by　the　Abbess　of
  Andouillettes；　leant　his　head　against　the　back　of　the　chair；　and　sat
  motionless；　fixing　his　unseeing　eyes　upon　the　bracket　of　the　curtain
  pole。
  〃Good　God！〃　he　cried；　〃every　wish！　Every　desire　of　mine！　Poor
  Pauline！〃
  He　took　a　pair　of　compasses　and　measured　the　extent　of　existence　that
  the　morning　had　cost　him。
  〃I　have　scarcely　enough　for　two　months！〃　he　said。
  A　cold　sweat　broke　out　over　him；　moved　by　an　ungovernable　spasm　of
  rage；　he　seized　the　Magic　Skin；　exclaiming：
  〃I　am　a　perfect　fool！〃
  He　rushed　out　of　the　house　and　across　the　garden；　and　flung　the
  talisman　down　a　well。
  〃Vogue　la　galere；〃　cried　he。　〃The　devil　take　all　this　nonsense。〃
  So　Raphael　gave　himself　up　to　the　happiness　of　being　beloved；　and　led
  with　Pauline　the　life　of　heart　and　heart。　Difficulties　which　it　would
  be　somewhat　tedious　to　describe　had　delayed　their　marriage；　which　was
  to　take　place　early　in　March。　Each　was　sure　of　the　other；　their
  affection　had　been　tried；　and　happiness　had　taught　them　how　strong　it
  was。　Never　has　love　made　two　souls；　two　natures；　so　absolutely　one。
  The　more　they　came　to　know　of　each　other；　the　more　they　loved。　On
  either　side　there　was　the　same　hesitating　delicacy；　the　same
  transports　of　joy　such　as　angels　know；　there　were　no　clouds　in　their
  heaven；　the　will　of　either　was　the　other's　law。
  Wealthy　as　they　both　were；　they　had　not　a　caprice　which　they　could　not
  gratify；　and　for　that　reason　had　no　caprices。　A　refined　taste；　a
  feeling　for　beauty　and　poetry；　was　instinct　in　the　soul　of　the　bride；
  her　lover's　smile　was　more　to　her　than　all　the　pearls　of　Ormuz。　She
  disdained　feminine　finery；　a　muslin　dress　and　flowers　formed　her　most
  elaborate　toilette。
  Pauline　and　Raphael　shunned　every　one　else；　for　solitude　was
  abundantly　beautiful　to　them。　The　idlers　at　the　Opera；　or　at　the
  Italiens；　saw　this　charming　and　unconventional　pair　evening　after
  evening。　Some　gossip　went　the　round　of　the　salons　at　first；　but　the
  harmless　lovers　were　soon　forgotten　in　the　course　of　events　which　took
  place　in　Paris；　their　marriage　was　announced　at　length　to　excuse　them
  in　the　eyes　of　the　prudish；　and　as　it　happened；　their　servants　did　not
  babble；　so　their　bliss　did　not　draw　down　upon　them　any　very　severe
  punishment。
  One　morning　towards　the　end　of　February；　at　the　time　when　the
  brightening　days　bring　a　belief　in　the　nearness　of　the　joys　of　spring；
  Pauline　and　Raphael　were　breakfasting　together　in　a　small
  conservatory；　a　kind　of　drawing…room　filled　with　flowers；　on　a　level
  with　the　garden。　The　mild　rays　of　the　pale　winter　sunlight；　breaking
  through　the　thicket　of　exotic　plants；　warmed　the　air　somewhat。　The
  vivid　contrast　made　by　the　varieties　of　foliage；　the　colors　of　the
  masses　of　flowering　shrubs；　the　freaks　of　light　and　shadow；　gladdened
  the　eyes。　While　all　the　rest　of　Paris　still　sought　warmth　from　its
  melancholy　hearth；　these　two　were　laughing　in　a　bower　of　camellias；
  lilacs；　and　blossoming　heath。　Their　happy　faces　rose　above　lilies　of
  the　valley；　narcissus　blooms；　and　Bengal　roses。　A　mat　of　plaited
  African　grass；　variegated　like　a　carpet；　lay　beneath　their　feet　in
  this　luxurious　conservatory。　The　walls；　covered　with　a　green　linen
  material；　bore　no　traces　of　damp。　The　surfaces　of　the　rustic　wooden
  furniture　shone　with　cleanliness。　A　kitten；　attracted　by　the　odor　of
  milk；　had　established　itself　upon　the　table；　it　allowed　Pauline　to
  bedabble　it　in　coffee；　she　was　playing　merrily　with　it；　taking　away
  the　cream　that　she　had　just　allowed　the　kitten　to　sniff　at；　so　as　to
  exercise　its　patience；　and　keep　up　the　contest。　She　burst　out　laughing
  at　every　antic；　and　by　the　comical　remarks　she　constantly　made；　she
  hindered　Raphael　from　perusing　the　paper；　he　had　dropped　it　a　dozen
  times　already。　This　morning　picture　seemed　to　overflow　with
  inexpressible　gladness；　like　everything　that　is　natural　and　genuine。
  Raphael；　still　pretending　to　read　his　paper；　furtively　watched　Pauline
  with　the　cathis　Pauline；　in　the　dressing…gown　that　hung　carelessly
  about　her；　his　Pauline；　with　her　hair　loose　on　her　shoulders；　with　a
  tiny；　white；　blue…veined　foot　peeping　out　of　a　velvet　slipper。　It　was
  pleasant　to　see　her　in　this　negligent　dress；　she　was　delightful　as
  some　fanciful　picture　by　Westall；　half…girl；　half…woman；　as　she　seemed
  to　be；　or　perhaps　more　of　a　girl　than　a　woman；　there　was　no　alloy　in
  the　happiness　she　enjoyed；　and　of　love　she　knew　as　yet　only　its　first
  ecstasy。　When　Raphael；　absorbed　in　happy　musing；　had　forgotten　the
  existence　of　the　newspaper；　Pauline　flew　upon　it；　crumpled　it　up　into
  a　ball；　and　threw　it　out　into　the　garden；　the　kitten　sprang　after　the
  rotating　object；　which　spun　round　and　round；　as　politics　are　wont　to
  do。　This　childish　scene　recalled　Raphael　to　himself。　He　would　have
  gone　on　reading；　and　felt　for　the　sheet　he　no　longer　possessed。　Joyous
  laughter　rang　out　like　the　song　of　a　bird；　one　peal　leading　to
  another。
  〃I　am　quite　jealous　of　the　paper；〃　she　said；　as　she　wiped　away　the
  tears　that　her　childlike　merriment　had　brought　into　her　eyes。　〃Now；　is
  it　not　a　heinous　offence；〃　she　went　on；　as　she　became　a　woman　all　at
  once；　〃to　read　Russian　proclamations　in　my　presence；　and　to　attend　to
  the　prosings　of　the　Emperor　Nicholas　rather　than　to　looks　and　words　of
  love！〃
  〃I　was　not　reading；　my　dear　angel；　I　was　looking　at　you。〃
  Just　then　the　gravel　walk　outside　the　conservatory　rang　with　the　sound
  of　the　gardener's　heavily　nailed　boots。
  〃I　beg　your　pardon；　my　Lord　Marquisand　yours；　too；　madameif　I　am
  intruding；　but　I　have　brought　you　a　curiosity　the　like　of　which　I
  never　set　eyes　on。　Drawing　a　bucket　of　water　just　now；　with　due
  respect；　I　got　out　this　strange　salt…water　plant。　Here　it　is。　It　must
  be　thoroughly　used　to　water；　anyhow；　for　it　isn't　saturated　or　even
  damp　at　all。　It　is　as　dry　as　a　piece　of　wood；　and　has　not　swelled　a
  bit。　As　my　Lord　Marquis　certainly　knows　a　great　deal　more　about　things
  than　I　do；　I　thought　I　ought　to　bring　it；　and　that　it　would　interest
  him。〃
  Therewith　the　gardener　showed　Raphael　the　inexorable　piece　of　skin；
  there　were　barely　six　square　inches　of　it　left。
  〃Thanks；　Vaniere；〃　Raphael　said。　〃The　thing　is　very　curious。〃
  〃What　is　the　matter　with　you；　my　angel；　you　are　growing　quite　white！〃
  Pauline　cried。
  〃You　can　go；　Vaniere。〃
  〃Your　voice　frightens　me；〃　the　girl　went　on；　〃it　is　so　strangely
  altered。　What　is　it？　How　are　you　feeling？　Where　is　the　pain？　You　are
  in　pain！Jonathan！　here！　call　a　doctor！〃　she　cried。
  〃Hush；　my　Pauline；〃　Raphael　answered；　as　he　regained　composure。　〃Let
  us　get　up　and　go。　Some　flower　here　has　a　scent　that　is　too　much　for
  me。　It　is　that　verbena；　perhaps。〃
  Pauline　flew　upon　the　innocent　plant；　seized　it　by　the　stalk；　and
  flung　it　out　into　the　garden；　then；　with　all　the　might　of　the　love
  between　them；　she　clasped　Raphael　in　a　close　embrace；　and　with
  languishing　coquetry　raised　her　red　lips　to　his　for　a　kiss。
  〃Dear　angel；〃　she　cried；　〃when　I　saw　you　turn　so　white；　I　understood
  that　I　could　not　live　on　without　you；　your　life　is　my　life　too。　Lay
  your　hand　on　my　back；　Raphael　mine；　I　feel　a　chill　like　death。　The
  feeling　of　cold　is　there　yet。　Your　lips　are　burning。　How　is　your　hand？
  Cold　as　ice；〃　she　added。
  〃Mad　girl！〃　exclaimed　Raphael。
  〃Why　that　tear？　Let　me　drink　it。〃
  〃O　Pauline；　Pauline；　you　love　me　far　too　much！〃
  〃There　is　something　very　extraordinary　going　on　in　your　mind；　Raphael！
  Do　not　dissimulate。　I　shall　very　soon　find　out　your　secret。　Give　that
  to　me；〃　she　went　on；　taking　the　Magic　Skin。
  〃You　are　my　executioner！〃　the　young　man　exclaimed；　glancing　in　horror
  at　the　talisman。
  〃How　changed　your　voice　is！〃　cried　Pauline；　as　she　dropped　the　fatal
  symbol　of　destiny。
  〃Do　you　love　me？〃　he　asked。
  〃Do　I　love　you？　Is　there　any　doubt？〃
  〃Then；　leave　me；　go　away！〃
  The　poor　child　went。
  〃So！〃　cried　Raphael；　when　he　was　alone。　〃In　an　enlightened　age；　when
  we　have　found　out　that　diamonds　are　a　crystallized　form　of　charcoal；
  at　a　time　when　everything　is　made　clear；　when　the　police　would　hale　a
  new　Messiah　before　the　magistrates；　and　submit　his　miracles　to　the
  Academie　des　Sciencesin　an　epoch　when　we　no　longer　believe　in
  anything　but　a　notary's　signaturethat　I；　forsooth；　should　believe　in
  a　sort　of　Mene；　Tekel；　Upharsin！　No；　by　Heaven；　I　will　not　believe
  that　the　Supreme　Being　would　take　pleasure　in　torturing　a　harmless
  creature。Let　us　see　the　learned　about　it。〃
  Between　the　Halle　des　Vins；　with　its　extensive　assembly　of　barrels；
  and　the　Salpetriere；　that　extensive　seminary　of　drunkenness；　lies　a
  small　pond；　which　Raphael　soon　reached。　All　sorts　of　ducks　of　rare
  varieties　were　there　disporting　themselves；　their　colored　markings
  shone　in　the　sun　like　the　glass