Day after day, a poor but beautiful young seamstress ceaselessly toils away by her window, waiting for the mysterious Monsieur Noir: a gentleman she hopes will be the answer to all her prayers . . .

A ball given at the height of Napoléon’s power is the scene of a wager between army comrades to see who will be the first to dance with an unknown lady in blue . . .

Who is Madame Firmiani? Is she a beautiful society lady? A dangerous woman, a siren? Or is she perhaps nothing more than an innocent and charming hostess who gives wonderful tea parties? The rich uncle of a young man who has come under her sway is determined to find out . . .

Also included here are The Study of a Woman, The Imaginary Mistress, and A Daughter of Eve. Taken together, the six works presented in this volume share adultery and suspicion as their primary themes.