I will not let either you or Surville bear the burden of my affairs.  However, until the arrival of my proxy, it is understood that Laura, who is my cash keeper, will remit you a hundred and fifty francs a month.  You may reckon on this as a regular payment; nothing in the world will take precedence of it.  Then, at the end of November to December 10, you will have the surplus of thirty-six thousand francs to reimburse you for the excess of the expenditure over the receipts during the time of your stewardship; during which, thanks to your devotion, you gave me all the tranquility that was possible. . . .  I entreat you to take care of yourself!  Nothing is so dear to me as your health!  I would give half of myself to keep you well, and I would keep the other half, to do you service.  My mother, the day when we shall be happy through me is coming quickly; I am beginning to gather the fruits of the sacrifices I have made this year for a more certain future.  Still, a few months more and I shall be able to give you that happy life—­that life without cares or anxiety—­which you so much need.  You will have all you desire; our little vanities will be satisfied no less than the great ambitions of our hearts.  Oh do, I pray you, nurse yourself! . . .  Your comfort in material things and your happiness are my riches.  Oh! my dear mother, do live to see my bright future realized!"[*]

[*] In speaking of Balzac’s relations to his mother, Mr. F. Lawton
    (Balzac) states:  “Madame Balzac was sacrificed to his
    improvidence and stupendous egotism; nor can the tenderness of the
    language—­more frequently than not called forth by some fresh
    immolation of her comfort to his interests—­disguise this
    unpleasing side of his character and action. . . .  And his
    epistolary good-byes were odd mixtures of business with
    sentiment.”

Thus did the poor mother alternately receive letters full of scoldings and of terms of endearment from her son whose genius she never understood.  She was faithful in her duties, and her ambitious son probably did not realize how much he was asking of her.  But she may have had a motive in keeping him on the prolonged visit during which this last letter was written, for she was interested in his prospective marriage.  Although her full name is never mentioned, the women in question, Madame D——­, was evidently a widow with a fortune, and in view of this prospect was most pleasing to Madame de Balzac.  However, this matrimonial plan fell through, and Balzac himself was never enthusiastic over it.  He felt that his attentions to Madame D——­ would consume his very precious time, and that the affair could not come off in time to serve his interests.  Could it be that Balzac was alluding to this same Madame D——­ when he wrote some time later:  “My beloved mother,—­the affair has come to nothing, the bird was frightened away, and I am very glad of it.  I had no time to run after it, and it was imperative it should be either yes or no.”