The excerpt represents the core issue or deciding factor on which you must meditate, and is drawn from A Prince of Bohemia by Honore de Balzac: Due de Chaulieu's eldest son), to the influence of a famous
Superintendent of Fine Arts, and sundry diplomatists and rich
foreigners. During her apogee she had a neat little house in the Rue
Chauchat, and lived as Opera nymphs used to live in the old days. Du
Bruel was smitten with her about the time when the Duke's fancy came
to an end in 1823. Being a mere subordinate in the Civil Service, du
Bruel tolerated the Superintendent of Fine Arts, believing that he
himself was really preferred. After six years this connection was
almost a marriage. Tullia has always been very careful to say nothing
of her family; we have a vague idea that she comes from Nanterre. One
of her uncles, formerly a simple bricklayer or carpenter, is now, it
|