travelled on to Geneva. His only explanation for his sudden change of
plan is a vague remark to his mother about the 1,000 francs required
for the journey,[+] and about the difficulty of publishing books while
he is away from France; while on the real reason of his change of plan
he is absolutely silent. Before the end of 1832 he is back in Paris,
and in spite of his success and celebrity is probably passing through
the bitterest months of his life.

[*] "Correspondance," vol. i. p. 202.

[+] "Correspondance," vol. i. p. 220.



CHAPTER VIII

1832 - 1835

Advertisement in the _Quotidienne_--Letters between Balzac and
Madame Hanska--His growing attachment to her--Meeting at
Neufchatel--Return to Paris--Work--"Etudes de Moeurs au XIXieme
Siecle"--"Le Medecin de Campagne"--"Eugenie Grandet"--Meets Madame
Hanska at Vienna--"La Duchesse de Langeais"--Balzac's enormous
power of work--"La Recherche de l'Absolu"--"Le Pere Goriot"
--Vienna--Monetary difficulties--Republishes romantic novels
--Continual debt--Amusements.

Meanwhile, during the tragic drama of the downfall of poor Balzac's
high hopes, Madame Hanska continued to write steadily; but she was
becoming tired of receiving no answer to her letters, and of not even