the
wife takes du Bruel's place."

"And the catastrophe?" queried Lousteau, returning just at the end of
Mme. de la Baudraye's story.

"I do not believe in catastrophes. One has to invent such good ones
to show that art is quite a match for chance; and nobody reads a book
twice, my friend, except for the details."

"But there is a catastrophe," persisted Nathan.

"What is it?"

"The Marquise de Rochefide is infatuated with Charles Edward. My story
excited her curiosity."

"Oh, unhappy woman!" cried Mme. de la Baudraye.

"Not so unhappy," said Nathan, "for Maxime de Trailles and La Palferine
have brought about a rupture between the Marquis and Mme. Schontz, and
they mean to make it up between Arthur and Beatrix."

1839 - 1845.

ADDENDUM

The following personages appear in other stories of the Human Comedy.

Bianchon, Horace
Father Goriot
The Atheist's Mass
Cesar Birotteau
The Commission in Lunacy
Lost Illusions
A Distinguished Provincial at Paris
A Bachelor's Establishment
The Secrets of a Princess
The Government Clerks
Pierrette
A Study of Woman
Scenes from a Courtesan's Life
Honorine
The Seamy Side of History
The Magic Skin
A Second Home
Letters of Two Brides
The Muse of the Department
The Imaginary Mistress
The Middle Classes
Cousin Betty
The Country Parson
In addition, M. Bianchon narrated the following:
Another Study of Woman
La Grande Breteche

Bruel, Jean Francois du
A Bachelor's Establishment
The Government Clerks
A Start in Life
The Middle Classes
A Distinguished Provincial at Paris
A Daughter of Eve

Bruel, Claudine Chaffaroux, Madame du
A Bachelor's Establishment
A Distinguished Provincial at Paris
Letters of Two Brides
The Middle Classes

Chaffaroux
Cesar Birotteau
The Middle Classes

Chocardelle, Mademoiselle
Beatrix
A Man of Business
Cousin Betty
The Member for Arcis

La Baudraye, Madame Polydore Milaud de
The Muse of the Department
Cousin Betty

Laguerre, Mademoiselle
The Peasantry

La Palferine, Comte de
A Man of Business
Cousin Betty
Beatrix
The Imaginary Mistress

Lou