Translated by Katharine Prescott Wormeley
DEDICATION
To Constance-Victoire.
Here, madame, is one of those books which come into the mind,
whence no one knows, giving pleasure to the author before he can
foresee what reception the public, our great present judge, will
accord to it. Feeling almost certain of your sympathy in my
pleasure, I dedicate the book to you. Ought it not to belong to
you as the tithe formerly belonged to the Church in memory of God,
who makes all things bud and fruit in the fields and in the
intellect?
A few lumps of clay, left by Moliere at the feet of his colossal
statue of Tartuffe, have here been kneaded by a hand more daring
than able; but, at whatever distance I may be from the greatest of
comic writers, I shall still be glad to have used these crumbs in
showing the modern Hypocrite in action. The chief encouragement
that I have had in this difficult undertaking was in finding it
apart from all religious questions,—questions which ought to be
kept out of it for the sake of one so pious as yourself; and also
because of what a great writer has lately called our present
“indifference in matters of religion.”
May the double signification of your names be for my book a
prophecy! Deign to find here the respectful gratitude of him who
ventures to call himself the most devoted of your servants.
De Balzac.
CONTENTS
[ THE LESSER BOURGEOISIE ]
[ PART I. ] THE LESSER BOURGEOIS OF PARIS
[ CHAPTER I. ] DEPARTING PARIS
[ CHAPTER II. ] THE HISTORY OF A TYRANNY
[ CHAPTER III. ] COLLEVILLE
[ CHAPTER IV. ] THE CIRCLE OF MONSIEUR AND MADAME THUILLIER
[ CHAPTER V. ] A PRINCIPAL PERSONAGE
[ CHAPTER VI. ] A KEYNOTE
[ CHAPTER VII. ] THE WORTHY PHELLIONS
[ CHAPTER VIII. ] AD MAJOREM THEODOSIS GLORIAM
[ CHAPTER IX. ] THE BANKER OF THE POOR
[ CHAPTER X. ] HOW BRIGITTE WAS WON
[ CHAPTER XI. ] THE REIGN OF THEODOSE
[ CHAPTER XII. ] DEVILS AGAINST DEVILS
[ CHAPTER XIII. ] THE PERVERSITY OF DOVES
[ CHAPTER XIV. ] ONE OF CERIZET’S FEMALE CLIENTS
[ CHAPTER XV. ]
[ CHAPTER XVI. ] DU PORTAIL
[ CHAPTER XVII. ] IN WHICH THE LAMB DEVOURS THE WOLF
[ CHAPTER XVIII. ] SET A SAINT TO CATCH A SAINT
[ PART II. ] THE PARVENUS
[ CHAPTER I. ] PHELLION, UNDER A NEW ASPECT
[ CHAPTER II. ] THE PROVENCAL’S PRESENT POSITION
[ CHAPTER III. ] GOOD BLOOD CANNOT LIE
[ CHAPTER IV. ] HUNGARY VERSUS PROVENCE
[ CHAPTER V. ] SHOWING HOW NEAR THE TARPEIAN ROCK IS TO THE CAPITOL
[ CHAPTER VI. ] 'TWAS THUS THEY BADE ADIEU
[ CHAPTER VII. ] HOW TO SHUT THE DOOR IN PEOPLE’S FACES
[ CHAPTER VIII. ]
[ CHAPTER IX. ] GIVE AND TAKE
[ CHAPTER X. ] IN WHICH CERIZET PRACTISES THE HEALING ART AND
[ CHAPTER XI. ] EXPLANATIONS AND WHAT CAME OF THEM
[ CHAPTER XII. ] A STAR
[ CHAPTER XIII. ] THE MAN WHO THINKS THE STAR TOO BRIGHT
[ CHAPTER XIV. ] A STORMY DAY
[ CHAPTER XV. ] AT DU PORTAIL’S
[ CHAPTER XVI. ] CHECKMATE TO THUILLIER
[ CHAPTER XVII. ] IN THE EXERCISE OF HIS FUNCTIONS
[ ADDENDUM ]