Book 2 Chapter 28 The Meaning of Mariettes Attraction

Mariette and a lady whom he did not know, with a red cape and a
big, heavy head-dress, were in the box, and two men also,
Mariette's husband, the General, a tall, handsome man with a
severe, inscrutable countenance, a Roman nose, and a uniform
padded round the chest, and a fair man, with a bit of shaved chin
between pompous whiskers.

Mariette, graceful, slight, elegant, her low-necked dress showing
her firm, shapely, slanting shoulders, with a little black mole
where they joined her neck, immediately turned, and pointed with
her face to a chair behind her in an engaging manner, and smiled
a smile that seemed full of meaning to Nekhludoff.

The husband looked at him in the quiet way in which he did
everything, and bowed. In the look he exchanged with his wife,
the master, the owner of a beautiful woman, was to be seen at
once.

When the monologue was over the theatre resounded with the
clapping of hands. Mariette rose, and holding up her rustling
silk skirt, went into the back of the box and introduced
Nekhludoff to her husband.

The General, without ceasing to smile with his eyes, said he was
very pleased, and then sat inscrutably silent.

"I ought to have left to-day, had I not promised," said
Nekhludoff to Mariette.

"If you do not care to see me," said Mariette, in answer to what
his words implied, "you will see a wonderful actress. Was she not
splendid in the last scene?" she asked, turning to her husband.