Camilla wore a seductive costume of irresistible effect. She had donned a gown similar to those worn by the lovely Spanish girls who dance boleros and cachuchas with so much ardor and supple grace. The dress, which was of puce-colored satin, trimmed with rich black lace, and rather short, permitted the spectator to admire a shapely leg, a well-arched foot, and a charming figure; it left almost entirely bare a dazzlingly white breast and shoulders worthy to serve as models for a sculptor. In her hair, which was dressed in an original fashion, were sprays of foliage, and long gold pins with pearls and diamonds for heads. Beneath this fanciful costume, the courtesan, whose eyes flashed fire, and whose least movement, least pose, was full of voluptuous suggestion, could not fail to add to the number of her conquests; and even the women did her justice; to be sure, they were almost all pretty, and envy could hardly find a foothold among them. Léodgard had arrived but a short time before. When he caught sight of Camilla, he simply smiled at her, but she stood in front of him and asked in a low tone: "How do I look?" "Beautiful, very beautiful, as always," the count replied, and walked into another room. "As always!" muttered Camilla, biting her lips in vexation; "I look as I always do! Whereas all these other young gentlemen do not tire of telling me that I have never been so beautiful, so seductive! Why, he did not even look at my hair, or notice this Spanish costume! He no longer loves me, and yet I do not think that he loves another." "Of what are you dreaming, divine Manola?" said the Marquis de Sénange, as he approached Camilla, taking her hand and passing it through his arm. "Why--of you, perhaps!" replied the courtesan, displaying a double row of teeth of irreproachable whiteness. "Of me! of me! Ah! if I could believe it!--Look you, Camilla--your eyes and this costume were quite enough to turn my head; but the words you have uttered make me mad with love!" "Well! what harm would it do, after all, if you were a little mad? It would not change you much, I should say." "Camilla, I would gladly endure all possible tortures, pass through every conceivable trial, if you would reward me by allowing me to love you!" "Love me! why, what prevents you? Have you not as much right to love me as another man?" "But let us understand each other, adorable siren! It is not cheerful to love all by one's self! Love is increased twofold when it is shared." "Indeed! What a pity that it is not so with everything! I would become very charitable!" "Look you, Camilla, have you not been faithful to Léodgard long enough? Frankly, you cover yourself with ridicule! A woman with such a wealth of attractions is a flower; it is not fair that a single man should inhale all her perfume!" "Ah! marquis, you wish to plunder your friend's garden!"