"She wants to dance, in order to melt her fat!" whispered Flavia to one of the gentlemen.
"Why so? for my part, I think her very comely as she is."
"Bah! one cannot see any figure!"
"I assure you that one can see some very pretty things!"
"As if men knew anything about it!"
"Ah! that remark is characteristic of a woman! They try to captivate, to seduce men, and then they declare that men are not capable of judging them!"
"Messeigneurs," said Camilla, approaching a group of gentlemen, among whom she saw Léodgard and Sénange, "the supper is served under the great arbor of lilacs yonder. If it is your pleasure to serve us as cupbearers, we will take our places at the table.—Come, mesdames."
As she spoke, the fair courtesan led her friends away, and they ran like a swarm of butterflies in the direction of the supper table.
"On my honor, that Spanish costume is marvellously becoming to Camilla!" said Sénange, exalted to the seventh heaven by a smile which the courtesan had bestowed upon him. "I do not believe that it is possible to find a more fascinating woman.—I am going to supper."
"Camilla is certainly very good-looking; I do justice to her attractions," said Montrevert, remaining behind to chat with a number of young men. "But as for saying that there is no more fascinating woman—Sénange goes too far! What would he say if he had seen the young Marquise de Santoval? Ah! she is what I call a beauty that eclipses all others! And, with all Camilla's charms, I will bet that no one would notice her if she stood beside the marchioness!"