the wrong." And in the same letter he said further, with calm pride: "I
must live, my dear sister, without asking anything of anybody; I must
live in order to work and pay back every one to whom I am in debt."

Yes, he was nearly twenty-nine years old, his debts amounted to ninety
thousand francs, and he was alone and without resources,--but although
it was a heavy burden he did not consider that it was too heavy for his
shoulders. He had debts, but he meant to pay them, by means of his pen
and his genius; and so we shall see him undertaking the most formidable
task that ever human brain produced,--and that was destined to cease
only at his death.



Chapter 5.

The First Success.

Misfortune, far from discouraging Balzac, strengthened all his powers
of resistance and exalted his will and his energy. He had a healthy and
strongly optimistic nature, upon which chagrins, reverses and sorrows
acted like so many stimulants; he was never so resolute as after a
defeat. M. Sedillot had barely begun the liquidation of his business
affairs, the printing house and foundry, when he gave himself up
passionately and exclusively to his literary work, apparently having
forgotten all his troubles, save the necessity of paying his debts. He
had a habit of prompt decisions and quick action. Eager to break at
once all the remaining fetters that bound him to his assignee, he wrote
to the General Baron de Pommereul, at Fougeres: