Finished: The Girl With the Golden Eyes (de Balzac). A bizarre de Balzac novella. Not my favorite of his works, but I do enjoy his writing! So many of de Balzac's characters repeat themselves in different stories of La Comedie Humaine, his collection of works. Apparently the main character of The Girl With the Golden Eyes, Henri de Marsay, is also in a few other books, but I'm not sure he's ever a main character in any other story. Henri is what is known as a dandy in de Balzac's works...a rich young man who is impeccably dressed, in high society, and has quite a way with the women. Henri de Marsay is also the illegitimate son of Englishman, Lord Dudley. Neither of Henri's parents took one iota of interest in him as a child, so he was basically raised by an uncle who was a tutor. However, Lord Dudley did provide monetarily for Henri, hence his wealth. Lord Dudley also had other children with other mistresses, and it was made clear that he didn't take an interest in any of them, and never thought it necessary to let his children know of their possible siblings out in the big world. Henri grows up with extreme intelligence and magnificent good looks, but lacks any love for God or man. He has few friends, as most people fear getting on his bad side and being subjected to his sarcasm and disdain. One day, at the age of 23, he spies Paquita, a beautiful young woman with mesmerizing golden eyes, walking with her duenna. When she sees Henri, she gives a start just like he does. They seem to form an instant attraction, but cannot stop to talk with each other. Henri finds out where she lives, and that she is the mistress of a Spanish marquis. He sends her a note and some sleeping drops to put her duenna to sleep and to sneak off to meet him. When the two young people meet, their attraction is mutual and they spend a night in the throes of passion. Henri is surprised that, though a "physical virgin", Paquita seems so experienced in the ways of love. He harbors a slight suspicion which is confirmed the next time they meet when Paquita murmurs "Marguerite!" when they are making love. Henri is incensed that Paquita has another lover who she has feelings for, and that to top things off, the lover is a woman! He immediately tries to kill Paquita but is stopped by her powerful man-servant, who will do anything she asks. Henri is sent home, but a few days later makes his way back to Paquita's bedroom with four of his friends. He leaves them downstairs for support if needed and heads up to Paquita's room to kill her. When he gets there, he finds a woman with a knife who has stabbed Paquita several times and Paquita reaches out to him as she dies in a pool of blood. The other woman seems more crazed than Henri. When she turns and sees Henri, they both give a start and exclaim..."your father must be Lord Dudley". Yes, that's right...brother and sister have come face to face and have both been infatuated with the same woman. What's more...Henri's sister is the marquese who bought Paquita. There had never been a marquis, hence Paquita's physical "innocence". Henri leaves his new found, and apparent look-a-like, half sister to clean up the mess of the murder and goes back to his friends. A few weeks later one of his friends asks him whatever became of the beautiful girl with the golden eyes and Henri says..."she died...of consumption." That's the end. Really, a kind of bizarre story among de Balzac's other works that I usually enjoy.