“Severin von Kusiemski ceases with the present day being the affianced
of Mme. Wanda von Dunajew, and renounces all the rights appertaining
thereunto; he on the contrary binds himself on his word of honor as a
man and nobleman, that hereafter he will be her _slave_ until such time
that she herself sets him at liberty again.
“As the slave of Mme. von Dunajew he is to bear the name Gregor, and he
is unconditionally to comply with every one of her wishes, and to obey
every one of her commands; he is always to be submissive to his
mistress, and is to consider her every sign of favor as an
extraordinary mercy.
“Mme. von Dunajew is entitled not only to punish her slave as she deems
best, even for the slightest inadvertence or fault, but also is
herewith given the right to torture him as the mood may seize her or
merely for the sake of whiling away the time. Should she so desire, she
may kill him whenever she wishes; in short, he is her unrestricted
property.
“Should Mme. von Dunajew ever set her slave at liberty, Severin von
Kusiemski agrees to forget everything that he has experienced or
suffered as her slave, and promises _never under any circumstances and
in no wise to think of vengeance or retaliation_.
“Mme. von Dunajew on her behalf agrees as his mistress to appear as
often as possible in her furs, especially when she purposes some
cruelty toward her slave.”
Appended at the bottom of the agreement was the date of the present
day.
The second document contained only a few words.
“Having since many years become weary of existence and its illusions, I
have of my own free will put an end to my worthless life.”
I was seized with a deep horror when I had finished. There was still
time, I could still withdraw, but the madness of passion and the sight
of the beautiful woman that lay all relaxed against my shoulder carried
me away.
“This one you will have to copy, Severin,” said Wanda, indicating the
second document. “It has to be entirely in your own handwriting; this,
of course, isn’t necessary in the case of the agreement.”
I quickly copied the few lines in which I designated myself a suicide,
and handed them to Wanda. She read them, and put them on the table with
a smile.
“Now have you the courage to sign it?” she asked with a crafty smile,
inclining her head.