ToMonsieurCharlesNodier，memberoftheFrenchAcademy，etc。
Here，mydearNodier，isabookfilledwithdeedsthatarescreenedfromtheactionofthelawsbythecloseddoorsofdomesticlife；butastowhichthefingerofGod，oftencalledchance，suppliestheplaceofhumanjustice，andinwhichthemoralisnonethelessstrikingandinstructivebecauseitispointedbyascoffer。
Tomymind，suchdeedscontaingreatlessonsfortheFamilyandforMaternity。Weshallsomedayrealize，perhapstoolate，theeffectsproducedbythediminutionofpaternalauthority。Thatauthority，whichformerlyceasedonlyatthedeathofthefather，wasthesolehumantribunalbeforewhichdomesticcrimescouldbearraigned；kingsthemselves，onspecialoccasions，tookpartinexecutingitsjudgments。
Howevergoodandtenderamothermaybe，shecannotfulfilthefunctionofthepatriarchalroyaltyanymorethanawomancantaketheplaceofakinguponthethrone。PerhapsIhaveneverdrawnapicturethatshowsmoreplainlyhowessentialtoEuropeansocietyistheindissolublemarriagebond，howfataltheresultsoffeminineweakness，howgreatthedangersarisingfromselfishinterestswhenindulgedwithoutrestraint。Mayasocietywhichisbasedsolelyonthepowerofwealthshudderasitseestheimpotenceofthelawindealingwiththeworkingsofasystemwhichdeifiessuccess，andpardonseverymeansofattainingit。MayitreturntotheCatholicreligion，forthepurificationofitsmassesthroughtheinspirationofreligiousfeeling，andbymeansofaneducationotherthanthatofalayuniversity。
Inthe“ScenesfromMilitaryLife“somanyfinenatures，somanyhighandnobleself-devotionswillbesetforth，thatI
mayherebeallowedtopointoutthedepravingeffectofthenecessitiesofwaruponcertainmindswhoventuretoactindomesticlifeasifuponthefieldofbattle。
Youhavecastasagaciousglanceovertheeventsofourowntime；itsphilosophyshines，inmorethanonebitterreflection，throughyourelegantpages；youhaveappreciated，moreclearlythanothermen，thehavocwroughtinthemindofourcountrybytheexistenceoffourdistinctpoliticalsystems。Icannot，therefore，placethishistoryundertheprotectionofamorecompetentauthority。Yournamemay，perhaps，defendmyworkagainstthecriticismsthatarecertaintofollowit，——forwhereisthepatientwhokeepssilencewhenthesurgeonliftsthedressingfromhiswound？
TothepleasureofdedicatingthisScenetoyou，isjoinedtheprideIfeelinthusmakingknownyourfriendshipforonewhoheresubscribeshimselfYoursincereadmirer，DeBalzacParis，November，1842。
In1792thetownspeopleofIssoudunenjoyedtheservicesofaphysiciannamedRouget，whomtheyheldtobeamanofconsummatemalignity。Werewetobelievecertainboldtongues，hemadehiswifeextremelyunhappy，althoughshewasthemostbeautifulwomanoftheneighborhood。Perhaps，indeed，shewasrathersilly。Butthepryingoffriends，theslanderofenemies，andthegossipofacquaintances，hadneversucceededinlayingbaretheinteriorofthathousehold。DoctorRougetwasamanofwhomwesayincommonparlance，“Heisnotpleasanttodealwith。“Consequently，duringhislifetime，histownsmenkeptsilenceabouthimandtreatedhimcivilly。Hiswife，ademoiselleDescoings，feebleinhealthduringhergirlhoodwhichwassaidtobeareasonwhythedoctormarriedher，gavebirthtoason，andalsotoadaughterwhoarrived，unexpectedly，tenyearsafterherbrother，andwhosebirthtookthehusband，doctorthoughhewere，bysurprise。Thislate-comerwasnamedAgathe。
Theselittlefactsaresosimple，socommonplace，thatawriterseemsscarcelyjustifiedinplacingtheminthefore-frontofhishistory；
yetiftheyarenotknown，amanofDoctorRouget’sstampwouldbethoughtamonster，anunnaturalfather，when，inpointoffact，hewasonlyfollowingouttheeviltendencieswhichmanypeopleshelterundertheterribleaxiomthat“menshouldhavestrengthofcharacter，“——amasculinephrasethathascausedmanyawoman’smisery。
TheDescoings，father-in-lawandmother-in-lawofthedoctor，werecommissionmerchantsinthewool-trade，anddidadoublebusinessbysellingfortheproducersandbuyingforthemanufacturersofthegoldenfleecesofBerry；thuspocketingacommissiononbothsides。Inthiswaytheygrewrichandmiserly——theoutcomeofmanysuchlives。
Descoingstheson，youngerbrotherofMadameRouget，didnotlikeIssoudun。HewenttoseekhisfortuneinParis，wherehesetupasagrocerintherueSaint-Honore。Thatstepledtohisruin。Butnothingcouldhavehinderedit:agrocerisdrawntohisbusinessbyanattractingforcequiteequaltotherepellingforcewhichdrivesartistsawayfromit。Wedonotsufficientlystudythesocialpotentialitieswhichmakeupthevariousvocationsoflife。Itwouldbeinterestingtoknowwhatdeterminesonemantobeastationerratherthanabaker；since，inourday，sonsarenotcompelledtofollowthecallingoftheirfathers，astheywereamongtheEgyptians。
Inthisinstance，lovedecidedthevocationofDescoings。Hesaidtohimself，“I，too，willbeagrocer！“andinthesamebreathhesaidalsotohimselfsomeotherthingsregardinghisemployer，——abeautifulcreature，withwhomhehadfallendesperatelyinlove。
Withoutotherhelpthanpatienceandthetriflingsumofmoneyhisfatherandmothersenthim，hemarriedthewidowofhispredecessor，MonsieurBixiou。
In1792Descoingswasthoughttobedoinganexcellentbusiness。Atthattime，theoldDescoingswerestillliving。Theyhadretiredfromthewool-trade，andwereemployingtheircapitalinbuyinguptheforfeitedestates，——anothergoldenfleece！Theirson-in-lawDoctorRouget，who，aboutthistime，feltprettysurethatheshouldsoonhavetomournforthedeathofhiswife，senthisdaughtertoParistothecareofhisbrother-in-law，partlytoletherseethecapital，butstillmoretocarryoutanartfulschemeofhisown。Descoingshadnochildren。MadameDescoings，twelveyearsolderthanherhusband，wasingoodhealth，butasfatasathrushafterharvest；andthecannyRougetknewenoughprofessionallytobecertainthatMonsieurandMadameDescoings，contrarytothemoraloffairytales，wouldlivehappyeverafterwithouthavinganychildren。ThepairmightthereforebecomeattachedtoAgathe。
Thatyounggirl，thehandsomestmaideninIssoudun，didnotresembleeitherfatherormother。HerbirthhadcausedalastingbreachbetweenDoctorRougetandhisintimatefriendMonsieurLousteau，aformersub-
delegatewhohadlatelyremovedfromthetown。Whenafamilyexpatriatesitself，thenativesofaplaceasattractiveasIssoudunhavearighttoinquireintothereasonsofsosurprisingastep。ItwassaidbycertainsharptonguesthatDoctorRouget，avindictiveman，hadbeenheardtoexclaimthatMonsieurLousteaushoulddiebyhishand。Utteredbyaphysician，thisdeclarationhadtheforceofacannon-ball。WhentheNationalAssemblysuppressedthesub-delegates，LousteauandhisfamilyleftIssoudun，andneverreturnedthere。AftertheirdepartureMadameRougetspentmostofhertimewiththesisterofthelatesub-delegate，MadameHochon，whowasthegodmotherofherdaughter，andtheonlypersontowhomsheconfidedhergriefs。ThelittlethatthegoodtownofIssouduneverreallyknewofthebeautifulMadameRougetwastoldbyMadameHochon，——thoughnotuntilafterthedoctor’sdeath。
ThefirstwordsofMadameRouget，wheninformedbyherhusbandthathemeanttosendAgathetoParis，were:“Ishallneverseemydaughteragain。“
“Andshewasright，“saidtheworthyMadameHochon。
Afterthis，thepoormothergrewasyellowasaquince，andherappearancedidnotcontradictthetonguesofthosewhodeclaredthatDoctorRougetwaskillingherbyinches。Thebehaviorofherboobyofasonmusthaveaddedtothemiseryofthepoorwomansounjustlyaccused。Notrestrained，possiblyencouragedbyhisfather，theyoungfellow，whowasineverywaystupid，paidherneithertheattentionsnortherespectwhichasonowestoamother。Jean-JacquesRougetwaslikehisfather，especiallyonthelatter’sworstside；andthedoctorathisbestwasfarfromsatisfactory，eithermorallyorphysically。
ThearrivalofthecharmingAgatheRougetdidnotbringhappinesstoheruncleDescoings；forinthesameweekorrather，weshouldsaydecade，fortheRepublichadthenbeenproclaimedhewasimprisonedonahintfromRobespierregiventoFouquier-Tinville。Descoings，whowasimprudentenoughtothinkthefaminefictitious，hadtheadditionalfolly，undertheimpressionthatopinionswerefree，toexpressthatopiniontoseveralofhismaleandfemalecustomersasheservedtheminthegrocery。ThecitoyenneDuplay，wifeofacabinet-
makerwithwhomRobespierrelodged，andwholookedaftertheaffairsofthateminentcitizen，patronized，unfortunately，theDescoingsestablishment。SheconsideredtheopinionsofthegrocerinsultingtoMaximiliantheFirst。AlreadydispleasedwiththemannersofDescoings，thisillustrious“tricoteuse“oftheJacobinclubregardedthebeautyofhiswifeasakindofaristocracy。Sheinfusedavenomofherownintothegrocer’sremarkswhensherepeatedthemtohergoodandgentlemaster，andthepoormanwasspeedilyarrestedonthewell-wornchargeof“accaparation。“
Nosoonerwasheputinprison，thanhiswifesettoworktoobtainhisrelease。Butthestepsshetookweresoill-judgedthatanyonehearinghertalktothearbitersofhisfatemighthavethoughtthatshewasinrealityseekingtogetridofhim。MadameDescoingsknewBridau，oneofthesecretariesofRoland，thenministeroftheinterior，——theright-handmanofalltheministerswhosucceededeachotherinthatoffice。SheputBridauonthewar-pathtosavehergrocer。Thatincorruptibleofficial——oneofthevirtuousdupeswhoarealwaysadmirablydisinterested——wascarefulnottocorruptthemenonwhomthefateofthepoorgrocerdepended；onthecontrary，heendeavoredtoenlightenthem。Enlightenpeopleinthosedays！AswellmighthehavebeggedthemtobringbacktheBourbons。TheGirondistminister，whowasthencontendingagainstRobespierre，saidtohissecretary，“Whydoyoumeddleinthematter？“andallotherstowhomtheworthyBridauappealedmadethesameatrociousreply:“Whydoyoumeddle？“BridauthensagelyadvisedMadameDescoingstokeepquietandawaitevents。ButinsteadofconciliatingRobespierre’shousekeeper，shefrettedandfumedagainstthatinformer，andevencomplainedtoamemberoftheConvention，who，tremblingforhimself，repliedhastily，“IwillspeakofittoRobespierre。“Thehandsomepetitionerputfaithinthispromise，whichtheothercarefullyforgot。Afewloavesofsugar，orabottleortwoofgoodliqueur，giventothecitoyenneDuplaywouldhavesavedDescoings。
Thislittlemishapprovesthatinrevolutionarytimesitisquiteasdangeroustoemployhonestmenasscoundrels；weshouldrelyonourselvesalone。Descoingsperished；buthehadthegloryofgoingtothescaffoldwithAndreChenier。There，nodoubt，groceryandpoetryembracedforthefirsttimeintheflesh；althoughtheyhave，andeverhavehad，intimatesecretrelations。ThedeathofDescoingsproducedfarmoresensationthanthatofAndreChenier。IthastakenthirtyyearstoprovetoFrancethatshelostmorebythedeathofChenierthanbythatofDescoings。
ThisactofRobespierreledtoonegoodresult:theterrifiedgrocersletpoliticsaloneuntil1830。Descoings’sshopwasnotahundredyardsfromRobespierre’slodging。Hissuccessorwasscarcelymorefortunatethanhimself。CesarBirotteau，thecelebratedperfumerofthe“QueenofRoses，“boughtthepremises；but，asifthescaffoldhadleftsomeinexplicablecontagionbehindit，theinventorofthe“PasteofSultans“andthe“CarminativeBalm“cametohisruininthatveryshop。Thesolutionoftheproblemheresuggestedbelongstotherealmofoccultscience。
DuringthevisitswhichRoland’ssecretarypaidtotheunfortunateMadameDescoings，hewasstruckwiththecold，calm，innocentbeautyofAgatheRouget。Whileconsolingthewidow，who，however，wastooinconsolabletocarryonthebusinessofherseconddeceasedhusband，hemarriedthecharminggirl，withtheconsentofherfather，whohastenedtogivehisapprovaltothematch。DoctorRouget，delightedtohearthatmattersweregoingbeyondhisexpectations，——forhiswife，onthedeathofherbrother，hadbecomesoleheiressoftheDescoings，——rushedtoParis，notsomuchtobepresentattheweddingastoseethatthemarriagecontractwasdrawntosuithim。TheardentanddisinterestedloveofcitizenBridaugavecarteblanchetotheperfidiousdoctor，whomadethemostofhisson-in-law’sblindness，asthefollowinghistorywillshow。