'Sakumi is in love,' said Andrea in a low voice, and leaning over towards Elena.
'With whom?'
'With you—have you not observed it yet?'
'No.'
'Well, look at him.'
Elena looked across at him. The amorous gaze of the disguised daimio suddenly affected her with such ill-disguised mirth that the Japanese felt deeply hurt and humiliated.
'See,' she said, and to console him she detached a white camellia and threw it across the table to the envoy of the Rising Sun,—'find some comparison in praise of me!'
The Oriental carried the flower to his lips with a ludicrous air of devotion.
'Ah—ah—Sakumi!' cried the little Baroness d'Isola, 'you are unfaithful to me!'
He stammered a few words while his face flamed. Everybody laughed unrestrainedly, as if the foreigner had been invited solely to provide entertainment for the other guests. Andrea turned laughing towards Elena.