old family friend, M. de Margonne, who was living with his wife at
Sache. He describes his life there thus:

"Sache is the remains of a castle on the Indre, in one of the most
delicious valleys of Touraine. The proprietor, a man of fifty-five,
used to dandle me on his knee. He has a pious and intolerant
wife, rather deformed and not clever. I go there for him; and
besides, I am free there. They accept me throughout the region as
a child; I have no value whatever, and I am happy to be there,
like a monk in a monastery. I always go there to meditate serious
works. The sky there is so blue, the oaks so beautiful, the calm
so vast! . . . Sache is six leagues from Tours. But not a woman,
not a conversation possible!"

Not only did Balzac visit them when he wished to compose a serious
work, but he often went there to recuperate from overwork. He probably
did not enjoy their company, as he spoke of "having" to dine with them
and he is perhaps even chargeable with ingratitude when he speaks of
their parsimony.

Like his own family, these old people were interested in seeing him
married to a rich lady, but to no avail. In spite of his unkind
remarks about them, Balzac appreciated their hospitality, and
expressed it by dedicating to M. de Margonne _Une Tenebreuse Affaire_.


MADAME CARRAUD--MADAME NIVET

"You are my public, you and a few other chosen souls, whom I wish
to please; but yourself especially, whom I am proud to know, you