The correspondence of Honor de Balzac Author:Honoré de Balzac Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: 71? Madame Laure Surville, Paris. La Boulonniere : October 1835. Dear Sister,—You may pay Auguste1 all that is due to him; I will return the amount to you ... more »before you want it. I am at the Boulonniere in quietude, away from the interruptions which in Paris never allow me to have a single day without a storm. I am finishing the ' Fleur-des-Pois,' which ought to appear on the 25th ; otherwise, I should have a lawsuit with Madame Bdchet, which would be the death of me. I am also finishing ' Richard Cceur d'Sponge,'2 which may of itself be sufficient to release me. My poor sister, I am drinking the cup to the dregs ; it is in vain that I work for fourteen hours a day; it does not suffice. Whilst I have been writing to you, I have become so tired, that I have sent Auguste to excuse me from fulfilling various engagements. I am so weak, that I am dining earlier in order to get to bed sooner, and I never go out anywhere. I have broken with Girardin in such a manner that we can never speak to each other again. 1 His servant. This really was never finished. Why is my mother so melancholy ? I shall still suffer, it is true ; but whilst fighting, one must march on, and not give way. I shall triumph at last. A thousand kind things to you, and a grasp of the hand to Surville. To Madame Laure Surville. La Boulonniere : October 1835. My dear Sister,—'La Fleur-des-Pois u is finished. We appear on the loth. I think I have succeeded in what I tried to do. The scene of signing the contract of marriage indicates what will be the future of the husband and wife. You will find what I believe to be a truly comic scene—the struggle between the young and the old notary. I have succeeded in making the discussion of this act interesting and true to the life. I...« less