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Honorine
by Honore de Balzac
Translated by Clara Bell
DEDICATION
To Monsieur Achille Deveria
An affectionate remembrance from the Author。
HONORINE
If the French have as great an aversion for traveling as the English
have a propensity for it； both English and French have perhaps
sufficient reasons。 Something better than England is everywhere to be
found； whereas it is excessively difficult to find the charms of
France outside France。 Other countries can show admirable scenery； and
they frequently offer greater comfort than that of France； which makes
but slow progress in that particular。 They sometimes display a
bewildering magnificence； grandeur； and luxury； they lack neither
grace nor noble manners； but the life of the brain； the talent for
conversation； the 〃Attic salt〃 so familiar at Paris； the prompt
apprehension of what one is thinking； but does not say； the spirit of
the unspoken； which is half the French language； is nowhere else to be
met with。 Hence a Frenchman； whose raillery； as it is； finds so little
comprehension； would wither in a foreign land like an uprooted tree。
Emigration is counter to the instincts of the French nation。 Many
Frenchmen； of the kind here in question； have owned to pleasure at
seeing the custom…house officers of their native land； which may seem
the most daring hyperbole of patriotism。
This preamble is intended to recall to such Frenchmen as have traveled
the extreme pleasure they have felt on occasionally finding their
native land； like an oasis； in the drawing…room of some diplomate： a
pleasure hard to be understood by those who have never left the
asphalt of the Boulevard des Italiens； and to whom the Quais of the
left bank of the Seine are not really Paris。 To find Paris again！ Do
you know what that means； O Parisians？ It is to findnot indeed the
cookery of the /Rocher de Cancale/ as Borel elaborates it for those
who can appreciate it； for that exists only in the Rue Montorgueil
but a meal which reminds you of it！ It is to find the wines of France；
which out of France are to be regarded as myths； and as rare as the
woman of whom I write！ It is to findnot the most fashionable
pleasantry； for it loses its aroma between Paris and the frontierbut
the witty understanding； the critical atmosphere in which the French
live； from the poet down to the artisan； from the duchess to the boy
in the street。
In 1836； when the Sardinian Court was residing at Genoa； two
Parisians； more or less famous； could fancy themselves still in Paris
when they found themselves in a palazzo； taken by the French Consul…
General； on the hill forming the last fold of the Apennines between
the gate of San Tomaso and the well…known lighthouse； which is to be
seen in all the keepsake views of Genoa。 This palazzo is one of the
magnificent villas on which Genoese nobles were wont to spend millions
at the time when the aristocratic republic was a power。
If the early night is beautiful anywhere； it surely is at Genoa； after
it has rained as it can rain there； in torrents； all the morning； when
the clearness of the sea vies with that of the sky； when silence
reigns on the quay and in the groves of the villa； and over the marble
heads with yawning jaws； from which water mysteriously flows； when the
stars are beaming； when the waves of the Mediterranean lap one after
another like the avowal of a woman； from whom you drag it word by
word。 It must be confessed； that the moment when the perfumed air
brings fragrance to the lungs and to our day…dreams； when
voluptuousness； made visible and ambient as the air； holds you in your
easy…chair； when； a spoon in your hand； you sip an ice or a sorbet；
the town at your feet and fair woman oppositesuch Boccaccio hours
can be known only in Italy and on the shores of the Mediterranean。
Imagine to yourself； round the table； the Marquis di Negro； a knight
hospitaller to all men of talent on their travels； and the Marquis
Damaso Pareto； two Frenchmen disguised as Genoese； a Consul…General
with a wife as beautiful as a Madonna； and two silent childrensilent
because sleep has fallen on themthe French Ambassador and his wife；
a secretary to the Embassy who believes himself to be crushed and
mischievous； finally； two Parisians； who have come to take leave of
the Consul's wife at a splendid dinner； and you will have the picture
presented by the terrace of the villa about the middle of Maya
picture in which the predominant figure was that of a celebrated
woman； on whom all eyes centered now and again； the heroine of this
improvised festival。
One of the two Frenchmen was the famous landscape painter； Leon de
Lora； the other a well known critic Claude Vignon。 They had both come
with this lady； one of the glories of the fair sex； Mademoiselle des
Touches； known in the literary world by the name of Camille Maupin。
Mademoiselle des Touches had been to Florence on business。 With the
charming kindness of which she is prodigal； she had brought with her
Leon de Lora to show him Italy； and had gone on as far as Rome that he
might see the Campagna。 She had come by Simplon； and was returning by
the Cornice road to Marseilles。 She had stopped at Genoa； again on the
landscape painter's account。 The Consul…General had； of course； wished
to do the honors of Genoa； before the arrival of the Court； to a woman
whose wealth； name； and position recommend her no less than her
talents。 Camille Maupin； who knew her Genoa down to its smallest
chapels； had left her landscape painter to the care of the diplomate
and the two Genoese marquises； and was miserly of her minutes。 Though
the ambassador was a distinguished man of letters； the celebrated lady
had refused to yield to his advances； dreading what the English call
an exhibition； but she had drawn in the claws of her refusals when it
was proposed that they should spend a farewell day at the Consul's
villa。 Leon de Lora had told Camille that her presence at the villa
was the only return he could make to the Ambassador and his wife； the
two Genoese noblemen； the Consul and his wife。 So Mademoiselle des
Touches had sacrificed one of those days of perfect freedom； which are
not always to be had in Paris by those on whom the world has its eye。
Now； the meeting being accounted for； it is easy to understand that
etiquette had been banished； as well as a great many women even of the
highest rank； who were curious to know whether Camille Maupin's manly
talent impaired her grace as a pretty woman； and to see； in a word；
whether the trousers showed below her petticoats。 After dinner till
nine o'clock； when a collation was served； though the conversation had
been gay and grave by turns； and constantly enlivened by Leon de
Lora's salliesfor he is considered the most roguish wit of Paris
to…dayand by the good taste which will surprise no one after the
list of guests； literature had scarcely been mentioned。 However； the
butterfly flittings of this French tilting match were certain to come
to it； were it only to flutter over this essentially French subject。
But before coming to the turn in the conversation which led the
Consul…General to speak； it will not be out of place to give some
account of him and his family。
This diplomate； a man of four…and…thirty； who had been married about
six years； was the living portrait of Lord Byron。 The familiarity of
that face makes a description of the Consul's unnecessary。 It may；
however； be noted that there was no affectation in his dreamy
expression。 Lord Byron was a poet； and the Consul was poetical； women
know and recognize the difference； which explains without justifying
some of their attachments。 His handsome face； thrown into relief by a
delightful nature； had captivated a Genoese heiress。 A Genoese
heiress！ the expression might raise a smile at Genoa； where； in
consequence of the inability of daughters to inherit； a woman is
rarely rich； but Onorina Pedrotti； the only child of a banker without
heirs male； was an exception。 Notwithstanding all the flattering
advances prompted by a spontaneous passion； the Consul…General had not
seemed to wish to marry。 Nevertheless； after living in t