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oard on a table； and another on a commode near the door。 On still another table a silver vase had been placed。 The man and woman stood silent； listening in a sort of terror to the noisy rattle of the dying man's breath。
〃The candle at the head of the bed vividly lighted a portrait of a young man； high coloured and smiling； which hung above the mantle。
〃An insupportable odour emanated from the bed。 I lifted up the coverlid and took Balzac's hand。 It was bathed in sweat。 I pressed it； but he did not return the pressure。
〃The nurse said to me：
〃'He will die at daybreak。'
〃I descended the stairs； carrying away that livid face in my thoughts； as I crossed the parlour I once again came upon the motionless bust （of Balzac； by David of Angers）； impassible； proud and vaguely radiant； and I drew a comparison between death and immortality。
〃On reaching my home； as it happened to be Sunday； I found several callers waiting for me； amongst others Riza…Bey； the Turkish charge d'affaires； Navarrete； the Spanish poet； and Count Arrivabene； an Italian exile。 I said to them：
〃'Gentlemen； Europe is about to lose a great mind。'
〃He died during the night； at fifty…one years of age。〃
Balzac loved to compare his struggles with the military campaigns of Bonaparte； and to point out that he had conducted them without halt or bivouac； after the manner of the great conqueror。 He wished to equal him in glory and to surpass him in the achievements that he should leave behind him for the benefit of future generations。 He has recorded his great desire： 〃In short； here is the game I am playing； during this present half century four men will have exerted an immense influence： Napoleon； Cuvier； O'Connell； and I should like to be the fourth。 The first lived upon the blood of Europe； he inoculated himself with armies； the second espoused the globe； the third was the incarnation of an entire people； as for me； I shall have borne an entire social epoch in my head。〃
More fortunate than the young Corsican sub…lieutenant； Balzac produced a work possessing a permanence which the other could not have；since thought is always greater than action；and although death surprised him before he could lay the last stone of his edifice； its incompleted grandeurs might well suffice the loftiest ambition。
End