Sorrow in Sunlight by Ronald Firbank

Now, beyond the Alemeda, in the modish faubourg of Farananka, there lived a lady of both influence and wealth -- the widow of the Inventor of Sunflower Piquant. The _veto_ of Madame Ruiz, arbitress absolute of Cunan society, and owner, moreover, of a considerable portion of the town, had caused the suicide indeed of more than one social climber. Unhappy, nostalgic, disdainful, selfish, ever about to abandon Cuna-Cuna to return to it no more, yet never budging, adoring her fairy villa far to well, Madame Ruiz, while craving for the International-world, consoled herself by watching from afar European Society going speedily to the dogs. Art-loving, and considerably musical (many a dizzy venture at the Opera-house had owed its audition to her), she had, despite the self-centeredness of her nature, done not a little to render more brilliant the charming city it amused her with such vehemence to abuse.

One softly gloomy morning, preceding Madame Ruiz's first _cotillon_ of the Season, the lodge-keeper of the Villa Alba, a negress, like some great, violet bug, was surprised, while tending the brightly hanging grape-fruit in the drive, by an imperative knocking on the gate. At such a matutinal hour only trashy errand-boys shouldering baskets might be expected to call, and giving the summons no heed the mulatress continued her work.