After many years of study in Manhattan, the Count had perfected a rare preparation for the skin.

Crafted from rigorously selected ingredients and subjected to countless trials, his creation was, at last, complete.

One morning, the Count left his residence carrying several flasks. He walked through the streets of Manhattan in search of ladies willing to try his creation for a prescribed period.

He extended the invitation to dozens. Only five accepted.

To each of them, the Count presented a box. Inside rested a flask and a parchment containing the instructions for the ritual.

The first lady was a foreigner. Unable to understand what was written, she used the preparation as she imagined was correct.

The second lived amid so many obligations that she rarely remembered to apply it. She did so only from time to time, whenever it happened to cross her mind.

The third, considering herself particularly astute, decided to double both the amount and the frequency of application. She was convinced that, by doing so, she would achieve greater results in less time.

The fourth followed the parchment with exactness throughout the entire prescribed period. At its conclusion, however, she contemplated herself in the mirror and became disheartened, for her appearance seemed unchanged. Although she was very beautiful, she could never find contentment in what she saw — and expected the preparation to transform what no flask could change on her behalf.

The fifth lady also followed each instruction with care. She did not alter the amount, omit a day, or attempt to hasten what required time.

As the days passed, she noticed that her skin appeared better cared for. But she also perceived something that had not been written upon the parchment: each night, as she repeated that gesture, she had reserved for herself a few moments of attention.

When the flask was empty, she searched once more for the mysterious Count, but could not find him.

Even so, on the following night, she returned to the same place before the mirror.

The flask was empty.

The ritual, however, remained.