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Paz
by Honore de Balzac
Translated by Katharine Prescott Wormeley
DEDICATION
Dedicated to the Comtesse Clara Maffei。
PAZ
（LA FAUSSE MAITRESSE）
I
In September； 1835； one of the richest heiresses of the faubourg
Saint…Germain； Mademoiselle du Rouvre； the only daughter of the
Marquis du Rouvre； married Comte Adam Mitgislas Laginski； a young
Polish exile。
We ask permission to write these Polish names as they are pronounced；
to spare our readers the aspect of the fortifications of consonants by
which the Slave language protects its vowels；probably not to lose
them； considering how few there are。
The Marquis du Rouvre had squandered nearly the whole of a princely
fortune； which he obtained originally through his marriage with a
Demoiselle de Ronquerolles。 Therefore； on her mother's side Clementine
du Rouvre had the Marquis de Ronquerolles for uncle； and Madame de
Serizy for aunt。 On her father's side she had another uncle in the
eccentric person of the Chevalier du Rouvre； a younger son of the
house； an old bachelor who had become very rich by speculating in
lands and houses。 The Marquis de Ronquerolles had the misfortune to
lose both his children at the time of the cholera； and the only son of
Madame de Serizy； a young soldier of great promise； perished in Africa
in the affair of the Makta。 In these days rich families stand between
the danger of impoverishing their children if they have too many； or
of extinguishing their names if they have too few；a singular result
of the Code which Napoleon never thought of。 By a curious turn of
fortune Clementine became； in spite of her father having squandered
his substance on Florine （one of the most charming actresses in
Paris）； a great heiress。 The Marquis de Ronquerolles； a clever
diplomatist under the new dynasty； his sister； Madame de Serizy； and
the Chevalier du Rouvre agreed； in order to save their fortunes from
the dissipations of the marquis； to settle them on their niece； to
whom； moreover； they each pledged themselves to pay ten thousand
francs a year from the day of her marriage。
It is quite unnecessary to say that the Polish count； though an exile；
was no expense to the French government。 Comte Adam Laginski belonged
to one of the oldest and most illustrious families in Poland； which
was allied to many of the princely houses of Germany；Sapieha；
Radziwill； Mniszech； Rzewuski； Czartoryski； Leczinski； Lubormirski；
and all the other great Sarmatian SKIS。 But heraldic knowledge is not
the most distinguishing feature of the French nation under Louis…
Philippe； and Polish nobility was no great recommendation to the
bourgeoisie who were lording it in those days。 Besides； when Adam
first made his appearance； in 1833； on the boulevard des Italiens； at
Frascati； and at the Jockey…Club； he was leading the life of a young
man who； having lost his political prospects； was taking his pleasure
in Parisian dissipation。 At first he was thought to be a student。
The Polish nationality had at this period fallen as low in French
estimation； thanks to a shameful governmental reaction； as the
republicans had sought to raise it。 The singular struggle of the
Movement against Resistance （two words which will be inexplicable
thirty years hence） made sport of what ought to have been truly
respected；the name of a conquered nation to whom the French had
offered hospitality； for whom fetes had been given （with songs and
dances by subscription）； above all； a nation which in the Napoleonic
struggle between France and Europe had given us six thousand men； and
what men！
Do not infer from this that either side is taken here； either that of
the Emperor Nicholas against Poland； or that of Poland against the
Emperor。 It would be a foolish thing to slip political discussion into
tales that are intended to amuse or interest。 Besides； Russia and
Poland were both right；one to wish the unity of its empire； the
other to desire its liberty。 Let us say in passing that Poland might
have conquered Russia by the influence of her morals instead of
fighting her with weapons； she should have imitated China which； in
the end； Chinesed the Tartars； and will； it is to be hoped； Chinese
the English。 Poland ought to have Polonized Russia。 Poniatowski tried
to do so in the least favorable portion of the empire； but as a king
he was little understood；because； possibly； he did not fully
understand himself。
But how could the Parisians avoid disliking an unfortunate people who
were the cause of that shameful falsehood enacted during the famous
review at which all Paris declared its will to succor Poland？ The
Poles were held up to them as the allies of the republican party； and
they never once remembered that Poland was a republic of aristocrats。
From that day forth the bourgeoisie treated with base contempt the
exiles of the nation it had worshipped a few days earlier。 The wind of
a riot is always enough to veer the Parisians from north to south
under any regime。 It is necessary to remember these sudden
fluctuations of feeling in order to understand why it was that in 1835
the word 〃Pole〃 conveyed a derisive meaning to a people who consider
themselves the wittiest and most courteous nation on earth； and their
city of Paris the focus of enlightenment； with the sceptre of arts and
literature within its grasp。
There are； alas！ two sorts of Polish exiles；the republican Poles；
sons of Lelewel； and the noble Poles； at the head of whom is Prince
Adam Czartoryski。 The two classes are like fire and water； but why
complain of that？ Such divisions are always to be found among exiles；
no matter of what nation they may be； or in what countries they take
refuge。 They carry their countries and their hatreds with them。 Two
French priests； who had emigrated to Brussels during the Revolution；
showed the utmost horror of each other； and when one of them was asked
why； he replied with a glance at his companion in misery： 〃Why？
because he's a Jansenist！〃 Dante would gladly have stabbed a Guelf had
he met him in exile。 This explains the virulent attacks of the French
against the venerable Prince Adam Czartoryski； and the dislike shown
to the better class of Polish exiles by the shopkeeping Caesars and
the licensed Alexanders of Paris。
In 1834； therefore； Adam Mitgislas Laginski was something of a butt
for Parisian pleasantry。
〃He is rather nice； though he is a Pole；〃 said Rastignac。
〃All these Poles pretend to be great lords；〃 said Maxime de Trailles；
〃but this one does pay his gambling debts； and I begin to think he
must have property。〃
Without wishing to offend these banished men； it may be allowable to
remark that the light…hearted； careless inconsistency of the Sarmatian
character does justify in some degree the satire of the Parisians；
who； by the bye； would behave in like circumstances exactly as the
Poles do。 The French aristocracy； so nobly succored during the
Revolution by the Polish lords； certainly did not return the kindness
in 1832。 Let us have the melancholy courage to admit this； and to say
that the faubourg Saint…Germain is still the debtor of Poland。
Was Comte Adam rich； or was he poor； or was he an adventurer？ This
problem was long unsolved。 The diplomatic salons； faithful to
instructions； imitated the silence of the Emperor Nicholas； who held
that all Polish exiles were virtually dead and buried。 The court of
the Tuileries； and all who took their cue from it； gave striking proof
of the political quality which was then dignified by the name of
sagacity。 They turned their backs on a Russian prince with whom they
had all been on intimate terms during the Emigration； merely because
it was said that the Emperor Nicholas gave him the cold shoulder。
Between the caution of the court and the prudence of the diplomates；
the Polish exiles of distinction lived in Paris in the Biblical
solitude of 〃super flumina Babylonis；〃 or else they haunted a few
salons which were the neutral ground of all opinions。 In a city of
pleasure； like Paris； where amusements abound on all sides； the
heedless gayety of a Pole finds twice as many encouragements as it
needs to a life of dissipation。
It must be said； however； that Adam had two points against him；his
appearance； and his mental equipment。 There are two species of Pole；
as there are two species of Englishwoman。 When an Englishwoman is not
very handsome she is horribly ugly。 Comte Adam belonged in the second
category of human beings。 His small face； rather sharp in expression；
looked as if it had been pressed in a vise。 His short nose； and fair
hair； and reddish beard and moustache made him look all the more like
a goat because he was small and thin； and his tarnished yellow eyes
caught you with that oblique look which Virgil celebrates。 How came
he； in spite of such obvious disadvantages； to possess reall
