The Shadow of Great Britain

Chapter 918: Chapter 26 You French folks!_2

From the results, it seems that Grandmother and Madame Berny were right.

Although Balzac was a nobody in the French literary world for quite a long time, ever since the publication of ”The Wild Ass’s Skin,” he has now soared to great heights.

In 1831 and 1832 alone, Balzac’s total income included 1,125 Francs for ”The Wild Ass’s Skin,” 3,750 Francs for ”Scenes from Private Life,” 5,250 Francs for ”Philosophical Novel Collection” and ”Secrets of the Princess de Cadignan,” and 4,166 Francs for contributions to newspapers and magazines, totaling 14,291 Francs.

But like most great writers of this era, despite Balzac’s high income, his inflated consumer desire left him without saving even half a Sous, and he accumulated a debt of 6,000 Francs instead.

However, for Madame Berny, this wasn’t a particularly difficult problem to solve, and she was very willing to support the young writer who was half a lover and half a son to her.

Balzac diligently poured wine for Madame Berny, feeling very happy to see the ’poor mother’ after being locked up by publishers to write continuously for three months.

”Do you know? Recently, I joined a right-wing literary group, and Foch, Hugo, and others were not happy about it. They said, ’You’ve become a downright member of the Orthodox Party! Listen to me, don’t fraternize with these domestic forces that have no future. The situation might be dire, but it’s not bad enough to let Henry V and his henchmen—the Priests and the corrupt Nobility—make a comeback.’

But I don’t care what they say. In a country like France, authoritarian politics is necessary. Whether it’s Bonaparte, Charles X, Emperor, King, or Dictator, it’s absolutely necessary to have power concentrated in one person’s hands for governance. If I have any dissatisfaction with Louis Philippe, it’s that he’s too weak.”

Madame Berny, hearing this, merely smiled and held Balzac’s hand as they sat down: ”So, does that mean you want to hear those old-time anecdotes today? Do you have any new ideas to write into novels? Last April, when I took you out of Paris, you wrote ’The Curé of Tours’ and ’A Woman of Thirty’ all at once. And as soon as you returned to Paris, you entered a period of creative drought. Why don’t you come with me to the countryside of Saint-Germain for a while this month? I can tell you whatever you want to know.”

Balzac seemed somewhat resistant to this: ”Mother, it’s not that I don’t want to go with you. In fact, I’m not really fond of the social activities in Paris. But at least recently, I can’t leave Paris; I have things to do here.”

”Things to do?” Madame Berny scoffed: ”Could it be that you’ve fallen for another young lady? Has the Duchess of Abrantes been in touch with you again?”

Balzac solemnly swore to the heavens: ”I assure you, I have not, you must believe me, I could never deceive you.”

Madame Berny sighed: ”I worry that if a certain lady wrote asking you to visit her, you’d be all too glad to go. Wasn’t there one such lady who once summoned you from Tours to Versailles to console her agony? She selfishly exaggerated her suffering. As for this time, it’s evidently much more serious, especially since you said you joined a right-wing Orthodox group. I guess it’s definitely the influence of the Marchioness of Castries on you.

Unfortunately, your vanity is always so strong that it dominates your actions, especially when you’re unaware of its power. But my dear friend and son, please listen to my heartfelt advice. To make you listen to reason, I speak to you with the most affectionate voice. Just think! When you desperately need three or four thousand Francs, these people will not give you a single penny.

When those people are in power, they are always ungrateful by nature and will never change their nature for you alone. They are all selfish, cunning, arrogant, and despise anyone not of noble birth. My dear son! For the sake of all you cherish, for your honor, for your future happiness, and for the peace of mind of me who loves you, please do not listen to them, you were almost deceived.”

Regarding this, Balzac’s eyes flickered: ”My dear mother, please believe me, my staying in Paris this time has nothing to do with any young lady, but rather because that fellow Alexander Dumas has returned from London. If I were to hide away now, that guy would certainly mock me in the papers, claiming I deliberately feared his reputation. This fellow was spreading rumors the other day, saying he plans to teach me a lesson; but I am not afraid of that unrefined fatso.”

Madame Berny listened and helplessly took Balzac’s arm: ”Honoré, I’ll take it that what you’re saying is genuine. But please, don’t be reckless, alright? I heard that Mr. Dumas is a sharpshooter. Are you seriously considering a duel with him? Last year, you had two accidents in a row, and the leg that got crippled by a wheel hasn’t been healed for long, yet again you want to add a gun wound to your body?”

Balzac merely angrily said: ”Mother, I assure you, even without a gun, I can solve this issue with a pen. But I will keep in mind what you said earlier; indeed among the friends I made before, there are some rascals. For instance, Mezieres, when I had money, he called me his best friend. But when I just owed a month’s theater box fee, he referred to me as ’Mr. Stone Orchard’ in a dunning letter. However, I have to deal with Dumas first and then I’ll find Mezieres to settle accounts...”