Venus in Furs

Excerpt: ...and Wanda thrust forth her head full of curling- papers. "I haven't had my hair dressed yet," she said, smiling. "What have you there?" "A letter-" "For me?" I nodded. "Ah, you want to break with me," she exclaimed, mockingly. "Didn't you tell me yesterday that I wasn't the man for you?" "I repeat it now!" "Very well, then." My whole body was trembling, my voice failed me, and I handed her the letter. "Keep it," she said, measuring me coldly. "You forget that is no longer a question as to whether you satisfy me as a man; as a slave you will doubtless do well enough." "Madame!" I exclaimed, aghast. "That is what you will call me in the future," replied Wanda, throwing back her head with a movement of unutterable contempt. "Put your affairs in order within the next twenty-four hours. The day after to-morrow I shall start for Italy, and you will accompany me as my servant." "Wanda-" "I forbid any sort of familiarity," she said, cutting my words short, "likewise you are not to come in unless I call or ring for you, and you are not to speak to me until you are spoken to. From now on your name is no longer Severin, but Gregor." I trembled with rage, and yet, unfortunately, I cannot deny it, I also felt a strange pleasure and stimulation. "But, madame, you know my circumstances," I began in my confusion. "I am dependent on my father, and I doubt whether he will give me the large sum of money needed for this journey-" "That means you have no money, Gregor," said Wanda, delightedly, "so much the better, you are then entirely dependent on me, and in fact my slave." "You don't consider," I tried to object, "that as man of honor it is impossible for me-" "I have indeed considered it," she replied almost with a tone of command. "As a man of honor you must keep your oath and redeem your promise to follow me as slave whithersoever I demand and to obey whatever I command. Now leave me, Gregor!" I turned toward the door. "Not yet-you...