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"Co in the center of the rooown of white satin which floods down her body like light Over it she wears a scarlet kazabaika, richly edged with ermine Upon her powdered, snowy hair is a little diadem of diamonds She stands with her arms folded across her breast, and with her brows contracted

"Wanda!" I run toward her, and am about to throwme from top to bottom

"Slave!"

"Mistress!" I kneel down, and kiss the hearment

"That is as it should be"

"Oh, how beautiful you are"

"Do I please you?" She stepped before the mirror, and looked at herself with proud satisfaction

"I shall become mad!"

Her lower lip twitched derisively, and she looked at ly from behind half-closed lids

"Give me the whip"

I looked about the roo" She went over to the fire-place, took the whip fro h the air; then she slowly rolled up the sleeve of her fur-jacket

"Marvelous woman!" I exclaie, and struck me with the whip A ly bent down to me "Did I hurt you?" she asked, half- shyly, half-timidly

"No," I replied, "and even if you had, pains that coives you pleasure"

"But it doesn't give e intoxication

"Whipthe whip, and hit me twice "Are you satisfied now?"

"No"

"Seriously, no?"

"Whipyou, it is a joy to me"

"Yes, because you know very well that it isn't serious," she replied, "because I haven't the heart to hurt you This brutal garain Were I really the woman who beats her slaves you would be horrified"

"No, Wanda," I replied, "I love you more than myself; I am devoted to you for death and life In all seriousness, you can do with ests"