who loves me so absolutely, who puts himself so entirely in my power--"
She halted.

"No, no!" I said, covering her hands with kisses. "I don't fear
anything from you that might dishonor me. Forgive me the ugly
thought."

Wanda smiled happily, leaned her cheek against mine, and seemed to
reflect.

"You have forgotten something," she whispered coquettishly, "the
most important thing!"

"A condition?"

"Yes, that I must always wear my furs," exclaimed Wanda. "But I
promise you I'll do that anyhow because they give me a despotic
feeling. And I shall be very cruel to you, do you understand?"

"Shall I sign the contract?" I asked.

"Not yet," said Wanda. "I shall first add your conditions, and the
actual signing won't occur until the proper time and place."

"In Constantinople?"

"No. I have thought things over. What special value would there be
in owning a slave where everyone owns slaves. What I want is to
_have a slave, I alone,_ here in our civilized sober, Philistine
world, and a slave who submits helplessly to my power solely on