without paying attention to any one. He was accompanied by two
servants, one a negro, completely dressed in red satin, and the other
a Circassian in his full gleaming uniform. Suddenly he saw Wanda, and
fixed his cold piercing look upon her; he even turned his head after
her, and when she had passed, he stood still and followed her with
his eyes.

And she--she veritably devoured him with her radiant green eyes--and
did everything possible to meet him again.

The cunning coquetry with which she walked, moved, and looked at
him, almost stifled me. On the way home I remarked about it. She knit
her brows.

"What do you want," she said, "the prince is a man whom I might
like, who even dazzles me, and I am free. I can do what I please--"

"Don't you love me any longer--" I stammered, frightened.

"I love only you," she replied, "but I shall have the prince pay
court to me."

"Wanda!"

"Aren't you my slave?" she said calmly. "Am I not Venus, the cruel
northern Venus in Furs?"

I was silent. I felt literally crushed by her words; her cold look
entered my heart like a dagger.