Count that it was a charming, clever, virtuous woman, who never having
had the opportunity of breathing the Italian air and being able to
escape the ennui of housekeeping for a few weeks, had relied upon his
honor. She knew whom the novelist loved, and found in that the
greatest of guarantees. For the first and only time in her life she
amused herself by playing a masculine role, and on her return home had
resumed her feminine duties.

During this journey Madame Marbouty was known as _Marcel_, this being
the name of the devoted servant of Raoul de Nangis in Meyerbeer's
masterpiece, _Les Huguenots_, which had been given for the first time
on February 29, 1836. The two travelers had a delightful but very
fatiguing journey, for there were so many things to see that they even
took time from their sleep to enjoy the beauties of Italy. In writing
to Madame Hanska of this trip, he spoke of having for companion a
friend of Madame Carraud and Jules Sandeau.

Madame Marbouty was also a friend of Madame Carraud's sister, Madame
Nivet, so that when Balzac visited Limoges he probably called on his
former traveling companion.

When the second volume of the _Comedie humaine_ was published (1842),
Balzac remembered this episode in his life and dedicated _La
Grenadiere_ to his traveling companion:

"To Caroline, to the poetry of the journey, from the grateful
traveler."

In explaining this dedication to Madame Hanska, Balzac states that the
_poesie du voyage_ was merely the poetry of it and nothing more, and