s Menages_, which she liked; a few days later, he returned,
depressed because a great lady had told him it was _ennuyeux_, so she
tried to cheer him. _Souvenirs inedits_, dated February, 1839, left by
her, and a letter from her to Balzac dated March 12, 1840, in which
she asks him to give her a ticket to the first performance of his
play,[*] show that they were on excellent terms at this time. But
later a coolness arose, and in April, 1842, Madame Marbouty wrote _Une
fausse Position_. The personages in this novel are portraits, and
Balzac appears under the name of Ulric. This explains why the
dedication of _La Grenadiere_ was changed. Some writers seem to think
that Madame Marbouty suggested to Balzac _La Muse du Departement_, a
Berrichon bluestocking.

[*] The play referred to is doubtless _Vautrin_, played for the first
time March 14, 1840.

Among the women in the _Comedie humaine_ who have been identified with
women the novelist knew in the course of his life, Beatrix (Beatrix),
depicting the life of the Comtesse d'Agoult, is one of the most noted.
Balzac says of this famous character: "Yes, Beatrix is even too much
Madame d'Agoult. George Sand is at the height of felicity; she takes a
little vengeance on her friend. Except for a few variations, _the
story is true_."

Although Balzac wrote _Beatrix_ with the information about the heroine
which he had received from George Sand, he was acquainted with Madame
d'Agoult. Descended from the Bethmanns of Hamburg or Frankfort, she
was a native of Touraine, and played the role of a "great lady" at
Paris. She became a journalist, formed a _liaison_ with Emile de
Girardin, and wrote extensively for the _Presse_ under the name of
Daniel Stern. She had some of the characteristics of the Princesse
Belgiojoso; she abandoned her children. Balzac never liked her, and
described her as a dreadful creature of whom Liszt was glad to be rid.
She made advances to the novelist, and invited him to her home; he
dined there once with Ingres and once with Victor Hugo, but he did not
enjoy her hospitality. Notwithstanding the aversion which Balzac had
for her, he sent her autograph to Madame Hanska, and met her at
various places.

Among women Balzac's most noted literary friend was George Sand, whom
he called "my brother George." In 1831 Madame Dudevant, having
attained some literary fame by the publication of _Indiana_, desired
to meet the author of _La Peau de Chagrin_, who was li