'Fie! Fie!' he exclaimed. Sulkowski put the case under his arm.
'But to see it for the sake of art,' said the King, 'is only an ordinary sin. I shall confess it to Father Guarini--three paters and all is over--'
He stretched out his arm, Sulkowski smiled, opened the case, lifted the cover, and moved the picture towards the King. The pipe fell from his hands.
It was indeed a small masterpiece. The woman it represented was the same belle who sat for Titian's Venus and Diana; a marvellously beautiful woman, but in very fact in a very mythological position.
The King looked at it furtively, evidently ashamed of his curiosity; he blushed, but continued to gaze at the picture. He repeated, 'un gran maestro!' His eyes shone. He paid no attention to Sulkowski and began to whisper:
'Venus is very beautiful. Classical forms! What a charming, what a lovely favola!'
Suddenly overcome with shame, he looked round, pushed aside the picture, spat, made the sign of the cross, and said severely:
'Away with it! I do not wish to lose my soul. Why do you show me such things?'
'But what about the painting, your Majesty?'
'It is a masterpiece, but away with it!' Sulkowski shut the case and was about to carry it away, when the King stopped him.