Madame Firmiani."

It was to Madame de Berny's son, Alexandre, that Balzac dedicated
_Madame Firmiani_, and he no doubt recognized the portrait.

Balzac often portrayed his own life and his association with women in
his works. In commenting on _La Peau de Chagrin_, he writes:

"Pauline is a real personage for me, only more lovely than I could
describe her. If I have made her a dream it is because I did not
wish my secret to be discovered."

And again, in writing of _Louis Lambert_:

"You know when you work in tapestry, each stitch is a thought.
Well, each line in this new work has been for me an abyss. It
contains things that are secrets between it and me."

In portraying the yearnings and sufferings of Louis Lambert (_Louis
Lambert_), of Felix de Vandenesse (_Le Lys dans la Vallee_) and of
Raphael (La Peau de Chagrin_), Balzac is picturing his own life.
Pauline de Villenoix (_Louis Lambert_) and Pauline Gaudin (_Le Peau de
Chagrin_) are possibly drawn from the same woman and have many
characteristics of Madame de Berny. Madame de Mortsauf (_Le Lys dans
la Vallee_) is Pauline, though not so outspoken. Then, is it not _La
Dilecta_ whom the novelist had in mind when Louis Lambert writes:

"When I lay my head on your knees, I could wish to attract to you
the eyes of the whole world, just as I long to concentrate in my
love every idea, every power within me";