Notwithstanding that the beautiful Dorothea did not admire Balzac, he was sincere in his appreciation of her.  A novel recently brought to light, L’Amour Masque, or as the author first called it, Imprudence et Bonheur, was written for her.  Balzac had been her guest repeatedly; he had recognized in her one of the rare women, who by their intelligence and, as it were, instinctive appreciation of genius can compensate to a great incompris like Balzac for the lack of recognition on the part of his contemporaries; one of those women near whom, thanks to tactful treatment, a depressed man will regain confidence in himself and courage to go on.

Of the distinguished houses which were open to Balzac, that of the Comte Appony was one of the most beautiful.  This protege of the Prince of Metternich, having had the rare good fortune to please both governments, was retained by Louis-Philippe, and was as well liked and appreciated in the role of ambassador and diplomat as in that of man of the world.  The Countess Appony possessed a very peculiar charm, and was a type of feminine distinction.  Balls and receptions were given frequently in her home, where all was of a supreme elegance.

Balzac visited the Count and Countess frequently, often having a letter or a message to deliver for the Comtesse Marie Potocka.  He realized that it would be of advantage to be friendly toward the Ambassador of Austria, and he doubtless enjoyed the society of his charming wife.  He writes of one of these visits: 

“Alas! your moujik also has been un poco in that market of false smiles and charming toilets; he has made his debut at Madame Appony’s,—­for the house of Balzac must live on good terms with the house of Austria,—­and your moujik had some success.  He was examined with the curiosity felt for animals from distant regions.  There were presentations on presentations, which bored him so that he placed himself in a corner with some Russians and Poles.  But their names are so difficult to pronounce that he cannot tell you anything about them, further than that one was a very ugly lady, friend of Madame Hahn, and a Countess Schouwalof, sister of Madame Jeroslas. . . .  Is that right?  The moujik will go there every two weeks, if his lady permits him.”

The novelist met many prominent people at these receptions, among them Prince Esterhazy; he went to the beautiful soirees of Madame Appony while refusing to go elsewhere, even to the opera.

Several women Balzac probably met through his intimacy with their husbands.  Among these were Madame de Bernard, whose name was Clementine, but whom he called “Mentine” and “La Fosseuse,” this character being the frail nervous young girl in Le Medecin de Campagne.  In August, 1831, M. Charles de Bernard wrote a very favorable article about La Peau de Chagrin in the Gazette de Franche-Comte, which he was editing at that time.  This naturally pleased the novelist; their friendship continued through many years, and in 1844, Balzac dedicated to him Sarrazine, written in 1830.