midnight
The Tzigana , whom the Baroness requested him to take in to dinner , was Marsa , Marsa Laszlo , dressed in one of the black toilettes which she affected , and whose clear , dark complexion , great Arabian eyes , and heavy , wavy hair seemed to Andras 's eyes to be the incarnation , in a prouder and more refined type , of the warm , supple , nervous beauty of the girls of his country . He was surprised and strangely fascinated , attracted by the incongruous mixture of extreme refinement and a sort of haughty unconventionality he found in Marsa . A moment before , he had noticed how silent , almost rigid she was , as she leaned back in her armchair ; but now this same face was strangely animated , illumined by some happy emotion , and her eyes burned like coals of fire as she fixed them upon Andras . During the whole dinner , the rest of the dining-room disappeared to the Prince ; he saw only the girl at his side ; and the candles and polished mirrors were only there to form a sparkling background for her pale , midnight beauty . `` Do you know , Prince , '' said Marsa , in her rich , warm contralto voice , whose very accents were like a caress , `` do you know that , among all those who fought for our country , you are the one admiration of my life ? '' He smiled , and mentioned more illustrious names . `` No , no , '' she answered ; `` those are not the names I care for , but yours .