ank God if I find a
mistress who is at the same time beautiful and an aristocrat, as you
are."

Miss Zoe--that was the lovely woman's name--smiled, and at the same time
showed two rows of pearly teeth.

"I like your looks," she said, "and I feel inclined to take you into my
service, if you are satisfied with my terms."

"A lady's whim," her maid said to herself, when she noticed the ardent
looks which Miss Zoe gave her manservant, "which will soon pass away."
But that experienced female was mistaken that time.

Zoe was really in love, and the respect with which Lajos treated her,
put her into a very bad temper. One evening, when she intended to go to
the Italian Opera, she countermanded her carriage, and refused to see
her noble adorer, who wished to throw himself at her feet, and ordered
her groom to be sent up to her boudoir.

"Lajos," she began, "I am not at all satisfied with you."

"Why, Madame?"

"I do not wish to have you about me any longer; here are your wages for
three months. Leave the house immediately." And she began to walk up and
down the room, impatiently.

"I will obey you, Madame," the groom replied, "but I shall not take my
wages."

"Why not?" she asked hastily.

"Because then I should be under your authority for three months," Lajos
said, "and I intend to be free, this very moment, so that I may be able
to tell you that I entered your service, not for the sake of your money,
but because I love and adore a beautiful woman in you."

"You love me!" Zoe exclaimed. "Why did you not tell me sooner? I merely
wished to banish you from my presence, because I love you, and did not
think that you loved me. But you shall smart for having tormented me so.
Come to my feet immediately."

The groom knelt before the lovely girl, whose moist lips sought his at
the same instant.

From that moment Lajos became her favorite. Of course he was not allowed
to be jealous, as the young lord was still her official lover, who had
the pleasure of paying everything for that licentious beauty, and
besides him, there was a whole army of so-called "good friends," who
were fortunate enough to obtain a smile now and then, and occasionally,
something more, and who, in return, had permission to present her with
rare flowers, a parrot or diamonds.

The more intimate Zoe became with Lajos, the more uncomfortable she felt
when he looked at her, as he frequently did, with undisguised contempt.
She was wholly under his inf