One of the artists, highly talented but quite mad, boasted for a brief period the possession of a slave--a huge Riff from the mountains of Morocco, acquired in some mysterious manner.

All Bohemia flocked to the studio to witness the anachronism.
For the benefit of those of New York who did not belong to Bohemia the artist delighted to promenade the streets followed at a respectful distance by his serf.

Absolam--so the chattel was called--bearing his chains lightly, considered his main duty to be to make love to the ladies of Bohemia.

The artist's real troubles began when he undertook to rid himself of his slave.

Absolam, waxing greasily fatter and fatter, basking in the warmth of delightful celebrity, refused to be lost.
Long before the days of Absolam and his master there were painter men about the Square.