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Updated: June 10, 2025
He shows his usual caution in his letters to his family, and the reader is conscious that much was passing at Wierzchownia, on which Balzac is absolutely silent, and that many events that he does record are carefully arranged with the intention of conveying certain impressions to his hearers. One of his motives is clear.
Balzac's letter in answer to this is pathetic to any one cognisant of his subsequent history. Further on, he tells her that nothing in him is changed; and suddenly seized with a terrible doubt from the ambiguous tone of her letter, he cries, in allusion to a picture of Wierzchownia which always hung in his study: "Oh! I am perhaps very unjust, but this injustice comes from the passion of my heart.
He writes: "We have no idea at home of an existence like this. The study was in pink stucco, with a fireplace in which straw was apparently burnt, magnificent hangings, large windows, and convenient furniture. In this Louvre of a Wierzchownia there were, as Balzac remarks with pleasure, five or six similar suites for guests. Everything was patriarchal. Nobody was bored in this wonderful new life.
The happy Bilboquet conducted her to the Opera, the Italiens, the Conservatoire, and also to the Varietes where they saw Bouffe and Hyacinthe play in the laughable Filleul de tout le Monde. It was intended that she should stay till April, and that then he should take her back to Germany, leaving her there to pursue her journey to Wierzchownia, whither he was to proceed later.
Henriette Borel's reception into a religious house Comte Georges Mniszech "Les Paysans" started in La Presse Madame Hanska's unreasonableness hinders Balzac's work He travels with her and her daughter, and they return with him to Passy Comtesse Anna engaged to Comte Georges Mniszech Balzac takes Madame Hanska and her daughter to Brussels He meets Madame Hanska at Baden-Baden Leaves Paris again, meets Wierzchownia party at Naples Buys bric-a-brac for future home Work neglected Dispute with Emile de Girardin Balzac's unhappiness and suspense He goes to Rome Comes back better in health and spirits "La Cousine Bette" and "Le Cousin Pons" Balzac goes to Wiesbaden Marriage of Comtesse Anna and Comte Georges Mniszech Balzac and Madame Hanska secretly engaged Parisian gossip.
A sincere and profound grief was felt in Douai, and those who were present at the fete, moved by a natural feeling of patriotism, unanimously declined to dance. Among the letters which arrived that day in Douai, was one for Balthazar from Monsieur de Wierzchownia, then in Dresden and dying, he wrote, from wounds received in one of the late engagements.
Balzac's policy, after this mishap, was to keep on the best terms possible with Monsieur Hanski, who, to use the Frenchman's English expression, suffered from chronic blue devils. After leaving his new friends at Geneva, the novelist procured the Count an autograph letter from Rossini, this great composer being a favourite at Wierzchownia.
On the other hand, we can imagine the interest and excitement felt by the Chatelaine of Wierzchownia as she wrote, and secretly dispatched to the well-known author, the sentimental outpourings of her soul.
With what longing, in the midst of his harassing life in Paris, he would look back to the charming long fireside chats he had had with Madame Hanska; and as the time to meet her again came nearer, with what satisfaction special tit-bits of gossip were reserved to be talked over and explained during the long evenings at Wierzchownia!
Hanska's profile, and hence straying to an aquarelle representing the chateau at Wierzchownia, Balzac interrupted his proof correcting to forget his weariness in golden dreams: It was impossible that he should fail to be elected to the Academie Francaise which would mean two thousand francs hereupon he smiled he was sure of being appointed a member of the dictionary committee six thousand francs more his smile broadened and why should he not become a member of the Academy of Inscriptions and Belles-Lettres and its permanent secretary? another six thousand francs total, fourteen thousand! and laughing his vast sonorous laugh in view of this assured and honourable position Balzac made plans for a prompt marriage with his far-off and long-awaited bride.
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