when George Sand suggested that in returning home he might be assassinated, he replied:  “Not at all!  If I meet thieves they will think me insane, and will be afraid of me, or they will take me for a prince, and will respect me.”  It was a beautiful calm night, and he accompanied them thus, carrying his lighted candle in an exquisite carved candlestick, talking of his four Arabian horses, which he never had had, but which he firmly believed he was going to have.  He would have conducted them to the other end of Paris, if they had permitted him.

Once George Sand and Balzac had a discussion about the Contes droletiques during which she said he was shocking, and he retorted that she was a prude, and departed, calling to her on the stairway:  “Vous n’etes qu’une bete!” But they were only better friends after this.

Early in their literary career Balzac held this opinion of her:  “She has none of the littleness of soul nor any of the base jealousies which obscure the brightness of so much contemporary talent.  Dumas resembles her in this respect.  George Sand is a very noble friend, and I would consult her with full confidence in my moments of doubt on the logical course to pursue in such or such a situation; but I think she lacks the instinct of criticism:  she allows herself to be too easily persuaded; she does not understand the art of refuting the arguments of her adversary nor of justifying herself.”  He summarized their differences by telling her that she sought man as he ought to be, but that he took him as he is.

If Madame Hanska was not jealous of George Sand, she was at least interested to know the relations existing between her and Balzac, for we find him explaining:  “Do not fear, madame, that Zulma Dudevant will ever see me attached to her chariot. . . .  I only speak of this because more celebrity is fastened on that woman than she deserves; which is preparing for her a bitter autumn. . . . Mon Dieu! how is it that with such a splendid forehead you can think little things!  I do not understand why, knowing my aversion for George Sand, you make me out her friend.”  Since Madame Hanska was making a collection of autographs of famous people, Balzac promised to send her George Sand’s, and he wished also to secure one of Aurore Dudevant, so that she might have her under both forms.

It is interesting to note that at various times Balzac compared Madame Hanska to George Sand.  While he thought his “polar star” far more beautiful, she reminded him of George Sand by her coiffure, attitude and intellect, for she had the same feminine graces, together with the same force of mind.