She startles, and
trembles all over.
"I come to wish you happiness," I said, bowing, "I see, my dear
lady, too, has found a master."
"Yes, thank God!" she exclaimed, "not a new slave, I have had enough
of them. A master! Woman needs a master, and she adores him."
"You adore him, Wanda?" I cried, "this brutal person--"
"Yes, I love him, as I have never loved any one else."
"Wanda!" I clenched my fists, but tears already filled my eyes, and
I was seized by the delirium of passion, as by a sweet madness. "Very
well, take him as your husband, let him be your master, but I want
to remain your slave, as long as I live."
"You want to remain my slave, even then?" she said, "that would be
interesting, but I am afraid he wouldn't permit it."
"He?"
"Yes, he is already jealous of you," she exclaimed, "he, of you! He
demanded that I dismiss you immediately, and when I told him who you
were--"
"You told him--" I repeated, thunderstruck.
"I told him everything," she replied, "our whole story, all your
queerness, everything--and he, instead of being amused, grew angry,
and stamped his foot."
"And threatened to strike you?"
Wanda looked to the ground, and remained silent.
"Yes, indeed," I said with mocking bitterness, "you are afraid of
him, Wanda!" I threw myself down at her feet, and in my agitation
embraced her knees. "I don't want anything of you, except to be your
slave, to be always near you! I will be your dog-"
"Do you know, you bore me?" said Wanda, indifferently.
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