society.

In reading any separate story, when reference is made in passing to a
character, the reader will find it helpful and interesting to turn to
the _Repertory_ and find what manner of man it is that is under
advisement. A little systematic reading of this nature will speedily
render the reader a "confirmed Balzacian."

A slight confusion may arise in the use of the _Repertory_ on account
of the subdivision of titles. This is the fault neither of Messieurs
Cerfberr and Christophe nor of the translator, but of Balzac himself,
who was continually changing titles, dividing and subdividing stories,
and revamping and working other changes in his books. _Cousin Betty_
and _Cousin Pons_ were placed together by him under the general title
of _Poor Relations_. Being separate stories, we have retained the
separate titles. Similarly, the three divisions of _Lost Illusions_
were never published together until 1843--in the first complete
edition of the _Comedie_; before assuming final shape its parts had
received several different titles. In the present text the editor has
deemed it best to retain two of the parts under _Lost Illusions_,
while the third, which presents a separate Rubempre episode, is given
as _A Distinguished Provincial at Paris_. The three parts of _The
Thirteen_--_Ferragus_, _The Duchess of Langeais_, and _The Girl with
the Golden Eyes_--are given under the general title. The fourth part
of _Scenes from a Courtesan's Life_, _Vautrin's Last Avatar_, which
until the Edition Definitive had been published separately, is here
merged into its final place. But the three parts of _The Celibates_
--_Pierrette_, _The Vicar of Tours_ and _A Bachelor's Establishment_,
being detached, are given separately. Other minor instances occur, but
should be readily cleared up by reference to the Indices, also to the