Yvette

In a sweltering Paris summer, the boulevard hums with the clatter of carriages, the glow of café lanterns, and a river of well‑dressed pedestrians. Two old college friends, the wiry, quick‑witted Jean de Servigny and the towering, statuesque Leon Saval, stroll leisurely after dinner, their cigars smoldering and their coats draped over their arms. Their conversation, flavored with dry humor and a hint of cynicism, paints a vivid portrait of the city's glittering yet restless social scene.

The evening leads them to the doorstep of a notorious hostess known only as the Marquise Obardi, a woman who has risen from obscurity to command a salon frequented by diplomats, adventurers, and the city's most daring players. Both men are drawn into her world of card games, flirtations, and whispered rumors, each weighing the allure of pleasure against their own restless natures. As they step inside, the promise of intrigue and the delicate dance of desire begin to shape the night.