divided by the number of days in the year never exceeded two cents. I
had a supply of suits, underclothing and shoes sufficient to last a
year, and I did not need to dress excepting to go to the libraries and
do a few errands. The sum total of these expenses amounted to only
eighteen cents, which left me two cents over for emergencies." Balzac
somewhat exaggerates his poverty and reduces his expenses to suit the
pleasure of his poetic fantasy, but undoubtedly it was a brusque
transition from the bourgeois comfort of family life to the austerity
of his garret.

Nevertheless, he was exuberant and joyous,--as irresponsible as a young
colt freshly turned out to pasture. His sister Laure, now living at
Villeparisis with her parents, continued to receive his confidences. He
wrote her the most minute details of his solitary existence,--jesting
and burlesquing in a vein of frank and familiar humour.

"You ask, my dear sister, for details of my domestic arrangements and
manner of living; well, here they are:

"I wrote directly to mamma, in regard to the cost of my purchases,--a
little subterfuge to get an increased allowance,--but now you are going
to tremble: it is much worse than a purchase,--I have acquired a servant!

"'A servant! What are you thinking of, my brother?'

"Yes, a servant. He has as odd a name as the servant of Dr. Nacquart
(Balzac's physician); his is called Tranquil; mine is called Myself. A
bad bargain, beyond question! Myself is lazy, awkward, and improvident.
When his master is hungry or thirsty, he sometimes has neither bread
nor water to offer him; he does not even know how to protect him from