In La Recherche de l’Absolu, he gave the name of Adam de Wierzchownia to a Polish gentleman, Wierzchownia being the name of Madame Hanska’s home in the Ukraine.  “I have amused myself like a boy in naming a Pole, M. de Wierzchownia, and bringing him on the scene in La Recherche de l’Absolu.  That was a longing I could not resist, and I beg your pardon and that of M. de Hanski for the great liberty.  You could not believe how that printed page fascinates me!” He writes her of another character, La Fosseuse, (Le Medecin de Campagne):  “Ah! if I had known your features, I would have pleased myself in having them engraved as La Fosseuse.  But though I have memory enough for myself, I should not have enough for a painter.”

Either Balzac’s adoration became too ardent, or displeasure was caused in some other way, for no letters to Madame Hanska appear from August 26 to October 9, 1834.  In the meantime, a long letter was written to M. de Hanski apologizing for two letters written to his wife.  He explained that one evening she jestingly remarked to him, beside the lake of Geneva, that she would like to know what a love-letter was like, so he promised to write her one.  Being reminded of this promise, he sent her one, and received a cold letter of reproof from her after another letter was on the way to her.  Receiving a second rebuke, he was desperate over the pleasantry, and wished to atone for this by presenting to her, with M. de Hanski’s permission, some manuscripts already sent.  He wished to send her the manuscript of Seraphita also, and to dedicate this book to her, if they could forgive him this error, for which he alone was to be censured.

Balzac was evidently pardoned, for he not only dedicated Seraphita to her, as has been shown, but arrived in Vienna on May 16, 1835, to visit her, bringing with him this manuscript.  His stay was rather short, lasting only to June 4.  While there, he was quite busy, working on Le Lys dans la Vallee, and declined many invitations.  To get his twelve hours of work, he had to retire at nine o’clock in order to rise at three; this monastic rule dominated everything.  He yielded something of his stern observance to Madame Hanska by giving himself three hours more freedom than in Paris, where he retired at six.

Soon after his return from Vienna, the novelist was informed that a package from Vienna was held for him with thirty-six francs due.  Having, of course, no money, he sent his servant in a cab for the package, telling him where he could secure the money and, dead or alive, to bring the package.  After spending four hours in an agony of anticipation, wondering what Madame Hanska could be sending him, his messenger arrived with a copy of Pere Goriot which he had given her in Vienna with the request that she give it to some one to whom it might afford pleasure.