bound to bequeath to them the experience Fate sells him so dearly--is
it not a part of their inheritance?--When you marry,” the count went on,
with a little involuntary shudder, “do not undertake it lightly; that
act is the most important of all which society requires of us. Remember
to study at your leisure the character of the woman who is to be your
partner; but consult me too, I will judge of her myself. A lack of
union between husband and wife, from whatever cause, leads to terrible
misfortune; sooner or later we are always punished for contravening the
social law.--But I will write to you on this subject from Florence. A
father who has the honor of presiding over a supreme court of justice
must not have to blush in the presence of his son. Good-bye.”
PARIS, February 1830-January 1842.
ADDENDUM
The following personages appear in other stories of the Human Comedy.
Beaumesnil, Mademoiselle
The Middle Classes
Scenes from a Courtesan’s Life
Bianchon, Horace
Father Goriot
The Atheist’s Mass
Cesar Birotteau
The Commission in Lunacy
Lost Illusions
A Distinguished Provincial at Paris
A Bachelor’s Establishment
The Secrets of a Princess
The Government Clerks
Pierrette
A Study of Woman
Scenes from a Courtesan’s Life
Honorine
The Seamy Side of History
The Magic Skin
A Prince of Bohemia
Letters of Two Brides
The Muse of the Department
The Imaginary Mistress
The Middle Classes
Cousin Betty
The Country Parson
In addition, M. Bianchon narrated the following:
Another Study of Woman
La Grande Breteche
Crochard, Charles
The Middle Classes
Fontanon, Abbe
The Government Clerks
Honorine
The Member for Arcis
Granville, Vicomte de (later Comte)
The Gondreville Mystery
Honorine
Farewell (Adieu)
Cesar Birotteau
Scenes from a Courtesan’s Life
A Daughter of Eve
Cousin Pons
Granville, Comtesse Angelique de
The Thirteen
A Daughter of Eve
Granville, Vicomte de
A Daughter of Eve
The Country Parson
Granville, Baron Eugene de
Scenes from a Courtesan’s Life
Molineux, Jean-Baptiste
The Purse
Cesar Birotteau
Regnier, Claude-Antoine
The Gondreville Mystery
Roguin, Madame
Cesar Birotteau
At the Sign of the Cat and Racket
Pierrette
A Daughter of Eve
Vandenesse, Comtesse Felix de
A Daughter of Eve
The Muse of the Department