ow many have begun to lead a
fresh, lovely, and peaceful life at a much more advanced age than
yours! We exist only in our souls. You cannot be sure that your
soul has come to its highest development, nor whether you receive
the breath of life through all your pores, nor whether as yet you
see with all your eyes."

Being quite a linguist, Madame d'Abrantes began her literary career by
translations from the Portuguese, Spanish and Italian, and by writing
novels, in the construction of which, Balzac advised her. As she had
no business ability, he was of great assistance to her also in
arranging for the publication of her work:

"In the name of yourself, I entreat you, do not enter into any
engagement with anybody whatsoever; do not make any promise, and
say that you have entrusted your business to me on account of my
knowledge of business matters of this kind, and of my unalterable
attachment to yourself personally. I believe I have found what I
may call _living money_, seventy thousand healthy francs, and some
people, who will jump out of themselves, to dispose in a short
time of 'three thousand d'Abrantes,' as they say in their slang.
Besides, I see daylight for a third and larger edition. If
Mamifere (Mame) does not behave well, say to him, 'My dear sir, M.
de Balzac has my business in his charge still as he had on the day
he presented you to me; you must feel he has the priority over the
preference you ask for.' This done, wait for me. I shall make you
laugh when I tell you what I have concocted. If Everat appears
again, tell him that I have been your attorney for a long time
past in these affairs, when they are worth the trouble; one or two
volumes are nothing. But twelve or thirteen thsousand francs, oh!
oh! ah! ah! things must not be endangered. Only manoeuver
cleverly, and, with that _finesse_ which distinguishes Madame the
Ambassadress, endeavor to find out from Mame how many volumes he
still has on hand, and see if he will be able to oppose the new
edition by slackness of sale or excessive price.

"Your entirely devoted."
(H. DE BALZAC.)

Such assistance was naturally much appreciated by a woman so utterly
ignorant of business matters. But if Balzac aided the Duchess, he
caused her publishers much annoyance, and more than once he received a
sharp letter rebuking him f