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Updated: June 1, 2025
Hasn't she any soul? Octave is a fool to have given up such an estate as Villaines for a " Monsieur de Bourbonne belonged to the species Fossil, and used the language of the days of yore. "But suppose he had lost it at play?" "Then, madame, he would at least have had the pleasure of gambling." "And do you think he has had no pleasure here? See! look at Madame Firmiani."
Madame Firmiani is metamorphosed into a house! but the house is not a pile of stones architecturally superposed, of course not, the word presents in Lounger's language an indescribable idiom.
Monsieur Firmiani is altogether mythical; he is like that third post-horse for which we pay though we never behold it. Madame has the finest contralto voice in Europe, so say judges; but she has never been heard to sing more than two or three times since she came to Paris. She receives much company, but goes nowhere." The Observer speaks, you will notice, as an Oracle.
Evidently the Lounger considers that Madame Firmiani keeps a sort of inn, without a sign. "Why do you want to know Madame Firmiani? Her parties are as dull as the Court itself. What is the good of possessing a mind unless to avoid such salons, where stupid talk and foolish little ballads are the order of the day."
Therefore, if you should say to an individual of the species Practical, "Do you know Madame Firmiani?" he would present that lady to your mind by the following inventory: "Fine house in the rue du Bac, salons handsomely furnished, good pictures, one hundred thousand francs a year, husband formerly receiver-general of the department of Montenotte."
She bowed in response to his farewell greeting, but it was with lowered eyes and averted face. She did not wish to see him again. The village cure had judged this poor Diana of Ephesus only too well. Madame Firmiani was giving a ball.
It was necessary to quote the remarks given at the beginning of this history to bring out the true Firmiani in contradistinction to the Firmiani of society. If some women forgave her happiness, others did not forgive her propriety. Now nothing is so dangerous in Paris as unfounded suspicions, for the reason that it is impossible to destroy them.
You will see there the Comtesse Feraud, who is still in favor notwithstanding Louis XVIII.'s death, Delphine de Nucingen, Madame de Listomere, the Marquise d'Espard, and your dear Firmiani; I have had her invited to give you her support in case the other women attempt to black-ball you. I long to see you in the midst of them."
But there was no sickly sentiment between them, and Balzac regarded her with a noble love which he has expressed in the character of Mme. Firmiani. It was immediately after she had lightened his burdens that the real Balzac comes before us in certain stories which have no equal, and which are among the most famous that he ever wrote.
"Well, go on; tell me the same old story. But please remember that my experience in gallantry is not of yesterday." "My dear, kind uncle, here is a letter which will tell you nearly all," said Octave, taking it from an elegant portfolio, her gift, no doubt. "When you have read it I will tell you the rest, and you will then know a Madame Firmiani who is unknown to the world."
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