
Marsa returns to the villa after a fraught departure, her heart heavy with jealousy, secret longing, and a looming threat. The twilight garden glows with amber light, and the quiet elegance of her favorite salon—filled with Byzantine‑Hindoo décor, Persian rugs, and exotic bronzes—offers a fragile sanctuary. As the evening deepens, she hears the bark of hounds and the sudden arrival of Count Michel Menko, a man whose ominous demand haunts her thoughts.
The encounter crackles with tension: Marsa’s anger battles her curiosity, and the poised atmosphere of the salon becomes a stage for a dangerous dialogue. Surrounded by the murmurs of the General and the rustle of silk skirts, listeners are drawn into a world of aristocratic intrigue, whispered conspiracies, and the fragile balance between love and power. The opening promises a richly textured tale of passion, betrayal, and the high‑stakes games that unfold behind the manor’s ornate doors.
Language
en
Duration
~2 hours (135K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2003-04-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1840–1913
A major figure in French literary life, he moved easily between journalism, fiction, history, and the theatre. He is especially remembered for leading the Comédie-Française and for writing vividly about Paris and public life in the late 19th century.
View all books