By Honore De Balzac

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

THE LESSER BOURGEOISIE

(The Middle Classes)