As Tu read on, surprise and astonishment took possession of his
countenance. A second time he read it through, and then, throwing
himself back in his chair, broke out into a fit of laughter.

"So," he said to himself, "I have allowed myself to be deceived by a
young girl all these years. And yet not altogether deceived," he added,
trying to find an excuse for himself; "for I have often fancied that
there was the savour of a woman about the 'young noble.' I hope she is
not one of those heaven-born genii who appear on earth to plague men,
and who, just when they have aroused the affections they wished to
excite, ascend through the air and leave their lovers mourning."

Just at this moment the door opened, and Jasmine entered, looking more
lovely than ever, with the flush begotten by exercise on her beautifully
moulded cheeks. At sight of her Tu again burst out laughing, to
Jasmine's not unnatural surprise, who, thinking that there must be
something wrong with her dress, looked herself up and down, to the
increasing amusement of Tu.

"So," said he at last, "you deceitful little hussy, you have been
deceiving me all these years by passing yourself off as a man, when in
reality you are a girl."

Overcome with confusion, Jasmine hung her head, and murmured:

"Who has betrayed me?"

"You have betrayed yourself," said Tu, holding up the incriminating
document; "and here we have the story of the arrow with which you shot