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Ferragus
by Honore de Balzac
Translated by Katharine Prescott Wormeley
DEDICATION
To Hector Berlioz。
PREFACE
Thirteen men were banded together in Paris under the Empire； all
imbued with one and the same sentiment； all gifted with sufficient
energy to be faithful to the same thought； with sufficient honor among
themselves never to betray one another even if their interests
clashed； and sufficiently wily and politic to conceal the sacred ties
that united them； sufficiently strong to maintain themselves above the
law； bold enough to undertake all things； and fortunate enough to
succeed； nearly always； in their undertakings； having run the greatest
dangers； but keeping silence if defeated； inaccessible to fear；
trembling neither before princes； nor executioners； not even before
innocence； accepting each other for such as they were； without social
prejudices；criminals； no doubt； but certainly remarkable through
certain of the qualities that make great men； and recruiting their
number only among men of mark。 That nothing might be lacking to the
sombre and mysterious poesy of their history； these Thirteen men have
remained to this day unknown； though all have realized the most
chimerical ideas that the fantastic power falsely attributed to the
Manfreds； the Fausts； and the Melmoths can suggest to the imagination。
To…day； they are broken up； or； at least； dispersed； they have
peaceably put their necks once more under the yoke of civil law； just
as Morgan； that Achilles among pirates； transformed himself from a
buccaneering scourge to a quiet colonist； and spent； without remorse；
around his domestic hearth the millions gathered in blood by the lurid
light of flames and slaughter。
Since the death of Napoleon； circumstances； about which the author
must keep silence； have still farther dissolved the original bond of
this secret society； always extraordinary； sometimes sinister； as
though it lived in the blackest pages of Mrs。 Radcliffe。 A somewhat
strange permission to relate in his own way a few of the adventures of
these men （while respecting certain susceptibilities） has only
recently been given to him by one of those anonymous heroes to whom
all society was once occultly subjected。 In this permission the writer
fancied he detected a vague desire for personal celebrity。
This man； apparently still young； with fair hair and blue eyes； whose
sweet； clear voice seemed to denote a feminine soul； was pale of face
and mysterious in manner； he conversed affably； declared himself not
more than forty years of age； and apparently belonged to the very
highest social classes。 The name which he assumed must have been
fictitious； his person was unknown in society。 Who was he？ That； no
one has ever known。
Perhaps； in confiding to the author the extraordinary matters which he
related to him； this mysterious person may have wished to see them in
a manner reproduced； and thus enjoy the emotions they were certain to
bring to the hearts of the masses；a feeling analogous to that of
Macpherson when the name of his creation Ossian was transcribed into
all languages。 That was certainly； for the Scotch lawyer； one of the
keenest； or at any rate the rarest； sensations a man could give
himself。 Is it not the incognito of genius？ To write the 〃Itinerary
from Paris to Jerusalem〃 is to take a share in the human glory of a
single epoch； but to endow his native land with another Homer； was not
that usurping the work of God？
The author knows too well the laws of narration to be ignorant of the
pledges this short preface is contracting for him； but he also knows
enough of the history of the THIRTEEN to be certain that his present
tale will never be thought below the interest inspired by this
programme。 Dramas steeped in blood； comedies filled with terror；
romantic tales through which rolled heads mysteriously decapitated；
have been confided to him。 If readers were not surfeited with horrors
served up to them of late in cold blood； he might reveal the calm
atrocities； the surpassing tragedies concealed under family life。 But
he chooses in preference gentler events；those where scenes of purity
succeed the tempests of passion； where woman is radiant with virtue
and beauty。 To the honor of the THIRTEEN be it said that there are
such scenes in their history； which may have the honor of being some
day published as a foil of tales to listeners；that race apart from
others； so curiously energetic； and so interesting in spite of its
crimes。
An author ought to be above converting his tale； when the tale is
true； into a species of surprise…game； and of taking his readers； as
certain novellists do； through many volumes and from cellar to cellar；
to show them the dry bones of a dead body； and tell them； by way of
conclusion； that THAT is what has frightened them behind doors； hidden
in the arras； or in cellars where the dead man was buried and
forgotten。 In spite of his aversion for prefaces； the author feels
bound to place the following statement at the head of this narrative。
Ferragus is a first episode which clings by invisible links to the
〃History of the THIRTEEN；〃 whose power； naturally acquired； can alone
explain certain acts and agencies which would otherwise seem
supernatural。 Although it is permissible in tellers of tales to have a
sort of literary coquetry in becoming historians； they ought to
renounce the benefit that may accrue from an odd or fantastic title
on which certain slight successes have been won in the present day。
Consequently； the author will now explain； succinctly； the reasons
that obliged him to select a title to his book which seems at first
sight unnatural。
FERRAGUS is； according to ancient custom； a name taken by the chief or
Grand Master of the Devorants。 On the day of their election these
chiefs continue whichever of the dynasties of their Order they are
most in sympathy with； precisely as the Popes do； on their accession；
in connection with pontifical dynasties。 Thus the Devorants have
〃Trempe…la Soupe IX。；〃 〃Ferragus XXII。；〃 〃Tutanus XIII。；〃 〃Masche…Fer
IV。；〃 just as the Church has Clement XIV。； Gregory VII。； Julius II。；
Alexander VI。； etc。
Now； then； who are the Devorants？ 〃Devorant〃 is the name of one of
those tribes of 〃Companions〃 that issued in ancient times from the
great mystical association formed among the workers of Christianity to
rebuild the temple at Jerusalem。 Companionism （to coin a word） still
exists in France among the people。 Its traditions； powerful over minds
that are not enlightened； and over men not educated enough to cast
aside an oath； might serve the ends of formidable enterprises if some
rough…hewn genius were to seize hold of these diverse associations。
All the instruments of this Companionism are well…nigh blind。 From
town to town there has existed from time immemorial； for the use of
Companions； an 〃Obade；〃a sort of halting…place； kept by a 〃Mother；〃
an old woman； half…gypsy； with nothing to lose； knowing everything
that happens in her neighborhood； and devoted； either from fear or
habit； to the tribe； whose straggling members she feeds and lodges。
This people； ever moving and changing； though controlled by immutable
customs； has its eyes everywhere； executes； without judging it； a
WILL；for the oldest Companion still belongs to an era when men had
faith。 Moreover； the whole body professes doctrines that are
sufficiently true and sufficiently mysterious to electrify into a sort
of tribal loyalty all adepts whenever they obtain even a slight
development。 The attachment of the Companions to their laws is so
passionate that the diverse tribes will fight sanguinary battles with
each other in defence of some question of principle。
Happily for our present public safety； when a Devorant is ambitious；
he builds houses； lays by his money； and leaves the Order。 There is
many a curious thing to tell about the 〃Compagnons du Devoir〃
＇Companions of the Duty＇； the rivals of the Devorants； and about the
different sects of working…men； their usages； their fraternity； and
the bond existing between them and the free…masons。 But such details
would be out of place here。 The author must； however； add that under
the old monarchy it was not an unknown thing to find a 〃Trempe…la…
Soupe〃 enslaved to the king sentenced for a hundred and one years to
the galleys； but ruling his tribe from there； religiously consulted by
it； and when he escaped from his galley； certain of help； succor； and
respect； wherever he might be。 To see its grand master at the galleys
is； to the faithful tribe； only one of those misfortunes for which
providence is responsible； and which does not release the Devorants
from obeying a power created by them to be above them。 It is but the
passing exile of their legitimate king； always a king for them。 Thus
we see the romantic prestige attaching to the name of Ferragus and to
that of the Devorants completely dissipated。
As for the THIRTEEN； they were all men of the stamp of Trelawney； Lord
Byron's friend； who was； they say； the original of his 〃Corsair。〃 They
were all fatalists； men of nerve and poesy； weary of leading flat and
empty lives； driven toward