..".the duty of a woman, who wishes for domestic peace, compels her to bury sufferings so keen as hers at the bottom of her heart, and without a complaint."

Day after day, a poor but beautiful young seamstress 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 NapolEon'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...