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And all the while his financial difficulties were becoming keener； more pressing； more imminent； and Balzac； overburdened； recapitulated his disasters as follows： the Chronique de Paris； the Trip to Sardinia； the Revue Parisienne and Vautrin； nevertheless he proudly squared his shoulders。 〃My writings will never make my fortune until the time comes when I shall no longer be in need of a fortune for it takes twenty…five years before a success begins to pay； and fifty years before a great achievement is understood。〃 And he returned to his work！ His Complete Works were now published； for he had written a 〃Foreword；〃 summing up his method； his art and his idea； he composed Albert Savarus； in order 〃to respond with a masterpiece to the barkings of the press〃； he completed The Peasants； The Two Brothers （later A Bachelor's Establishment）； he wrote The Pretended Mistress； A Debut in Life； which appeared in La Legislature； David Sechard； The Evil Doings of a Saint； The Love of Two Beasts； he began The Deputy from Arcis and The Brothers of Consolation； he dreamed of bringing out a new editionand we know the labour that new editions cost him！of Louis Lambert and Seraphita； and； lastly； he corrected three volumes of the Comedie Humaine！
Living as a recluse at Passy； shut up in his working room with its hangings of red velvet； seated at his table； with one shapely hand supporting his massive head and his eyes fixed upon a miniature reproducing the somewhat opulent contours of Mme。 Hanska's profile； and hence straying to an aquarelle representing the chateau at Wierzchownia； Balzac interrupted his proof correcting to forget his weariness in golden dreams： It was impossible that he should fail to be elected to the Academie Francaisewhich would mean two thousand francshereupon he smiledhe was sure of being appointed a member of the dictionary committeesix thousand francs morehis smile broadenedand why should he not become a member of the Academy of Inscriptions and Belles…Lettres and its permanent secretary？another six thousand francstotal； fourteen thousand！and laughing his vast sonorous laughin view of this assured and honourable positionBalzac made plans for a prompt marriage with his far…off and long…awaited bride。
But his dreams were of short duration。 There was no end of ink…stained paper which had to be inked still further； for without money there could be no journey to St。 Petersburg。 And then there were losses of time； which he regretted but could not avoid； such as having to pose for David of Angers； who was modelling his monumental bust； having to take long walks； in order to keep down his growing corpulence； and inviting a few friends to Le Rocher de Cancale； Victor Hugo and Leon Gozlan； in order to entertain a Russian； M。 de Lenz； who wished to meet him；a sumptuous and lively dinner which cost him a hundred and twenty francs；a sum which he naturally had to borrow； and with no small difficulty！
After alternating between hope and despair； Balzac set forth by way of Dunkerque for St。 Petersburg； where he arrived July 29； 1843； not returning to Paris until the 3rd of November。 This was his fourth meeting with Mme。 Hanska in the space of ten years； and the first since the death of M。 de Hanski。 （Hanski is the masculine form for Hanska。 ＇Translator's Note。＇） Balzac was happy and irresponsible； he laughed his deep； resounding laugh of joyous days； that laugh which no misfortune could quite extinguish。 He was carefree and elated； and found the strength to write a short story； Honorine； without taking coffee。 He indulged in jests； the Emperor of Russia； he declared； valued him to the extent of thirty…two roubles； for that was the cost of his permit of residence。 And heart and soul he gave himself up to his dear Countess Hanska。
Balzac's trip to Russia was the source of numerous legends。 It was said that he went for the purpose of asking the Czar to authorise him to write a work that should be to a certain extent official； for the purpose of refuting M。 de Custine's Russia in 1839； and that； having demanded an audience in too cavalier a tone； he was ordered to regain the frontier by the shortest possible route。 Others related that he had gone there in pursuit of a princess whom he was bent upon marrying。
The return trip was made in short stages through Germany and Belgium； and Balzac stayed over long enough in Berlin； Dresden and Liege to become acquainted with these cities and their museums。 But he had no sooner arrived in Paris than he was attacked with inflammation of the brain； and Dr。 Nacquart put him on a very strict regime。 In Paris he once again found his tasks and his financial difficulties faithfully awaiting him； and； faithful in his turn； he set to work again with true 〃Balzacian fury。〃 But now a new element had entered into his life： his marriage to Mme。 Hanska； although still far distant； and dependent upon chance； was at least a settled question； and he left St。 Petersburg taking her formal promise with him。 Consequently； whatever the hardships of his existence； his periods of poverty and toil； he was now sustained by the hope of realising a union that had been so long desired； and he strove towards it with all his tenacious energy； as towards a supreme goal。 For the next seven years his every act was designed as a preparation for his marriage； the future organisation of his life； when he should become the husband of Countess Hanska。 He concerned himself with her financial affairs； with the lawsuit brought against her after the death of her husband； with the difficulties arising from a contested inheritance； and from a distance he gave her advice as to the management of her property and the investment of her principal。 And at the same time he kept her informed of his efforts to find a home worthy of their happiness； told her of household furnishings he had bought； and sketched the various scales of domestic and social life which one could live according to the amount of one's income。
These were no longer dreams； practically speaking； but projects for an assured future。 Nevertheless； he was still destined to pass through many a disastrous period before the triumph came。 In 1843 he was a candidate for the Academie Francaise； and he had reason to believe that he would be welcomed there with especial honours。 His already extensive achievements； surpassing all contemporary production； were further augmented by Honorine； The Muse of the Department； Lost Illusions （part three）； The Sufferings of an Inventor； a Monograph on the Parisian Press； which had aroused great anger； The Splendour and Misery of Courtezans （second part）； Modeste Mignon； and Madame de la Chanterie （later The Seamy Side of Contemporary History）； and there was no other writer who was in a position to dispute the sceptre with him。 Nevertheless； legitimate as his candidacy was； he felt the opposition to it； and； realising the cause； he wrote to Nodier； who was supporting him； this proudly sad letter：
〃MY GOOD NODIER；
〃I know to…day so surely that my financial position is one of the reasons for the opposition to my candidacy for the Academie； that I beg you； though with profound regret； not to use your influence in my favour。
〃If I am debarred from the Academie by reason of a most honourable poverty； I shall never again present myself in the days when prosperity accords me her favours。 I am writing to the same effect to our friend Victor Hugo； who has been working for me。
〃God give you health； my good Nodier。〃
And； this letter being written； Balzac once more buried himself in his work with such energy that he had a rush of blood to the head； together with such atrocious neuralgic pains that it was necessary to apply leeches。 None the less he continued to work； and； if he went out at all； it was for the purpose of visiting his printers or going on the trail of works of art。 From the time that the question of his marriage was assured he began an assiduous search for beautiful adornments for his future home； their home； and he prided himself on his instinct as a collector and his cleverness as a buyer。 He could get the upper hand of the oldest antiquary。 He had bought some Florentine furniture worthy of the Louvre； a commode and a writing…desk that had belonged to Marie de Medicis； for thirteen hundred and fifty francsa unique bargain！and he could sell them again at a profit of thousands of francs if he wished to。 Perhaps he would consent to part with the commode； but he intended to keep the writing desk and place it between two ebony wardrobes which he already possessed； and it would cost him nothing； because the sale of the other piece； the commode； would cover the entire cost！ And although in his letters to Mme。 Hanska he defended himself against the charge of prodigality； these 〃good bargains〃 still continued。 A clock of royal magnificence and two vases of pale green garnet； also Bouchardon's 〃Christ〃 in a frame by Brustolone。 And for years he continued in pursuit of bric…a…brac； paintings and other works of art。 In 1845； on his way home after accompanying Mme。 Hanska to Naples； he passed through Marseilles； where he found some Chinese vases and plates at Lazard's curio shop； and； after reaching Paris； he wrote to Lazard； ordering some Chine