[*] Eugene de Mirecourt, _Les Contemporains_, does not give the date
of this incident. Keim et Lumet, _H. de Balzac_, state that it
occurred in 1837, but E. E. Saltus, _Balzac_, states that it was
in connection with the indebtedness to William Duckett, editor of
the _Dictionnaire de la Conversation_, in 1846. F. Lawton,
_Balzac_, states that it was in connection with his indebtedness
to Duckett on account of the _Chronicle_, and that Balzac was sued
in 1837. If the letter to Mme. de V., _Memoir and Letters of
Balzac_, was addressed to Madame Visconti, he was owing her in
1840. M. F. Sandars, _Honore de Balzac_, states that about
1846-1848, Balzac borrowed 10,000 or 15,000 francs from the
Viscontis, giving them as guarantee shares in the Chemin de Fer
du Nord.

During Balzac's residence _aux Jardies_ he was quite near Madame
Visconti, as she was living in a rather insignificant house just
opposite the home Balzac had built. He enjoyed her companionship, and
when she moved to Versailles he regretted not being able to see her
more frequently than once a fortnight, for she was one of the few who
gave him their sympathy at that time.

Several months later Balzac was disappointed in her, and referred to
her bitterly as _L'Anglaise_, _L'Angleterre_, or "the lady who lived
at Versailles." He felt that she was ungrateful and inconsiderate, and
while he remained on speaking terms with her, he regarded this
friendship as one of the misfortunes of his life.

After the death of Madame Visconti (April 28, 1883), a picture of
Balzac which had been in her possession was placed in the museum at
Tours. This is supposed to be the portrait painted by Gerard-Seguin,