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 influence and was afraid of him, and one day, while he was playing with her dark curls, he said jeeringly: 

“It is usually said that contrasts usually attract each other, and yet you are as dark as I am.”

She smiled, and then tore off her black curls, and immediately the most charming, fair-haired woman was sitting by the side of Lajos, who looked at her attentively, but without any surprise.

He left his mistress at about midnight, in order to look after the horses, as he said, and she put on a very pretty nightdress and went to bed.  She remained awake for fully an hour, expecting her lover, and then she went to sleep, but in two hours’ time she was roused from her slumbers, and saw a police inspector and two constables by the side of her magnificent bed.