Farewell

A sweltering September afternoon drapes the forest of l'Isle‑Adam in a furnace‑like haze, where two mismatched companions trudge through stubble under a sky that threatens a storm. Colonel Philip, a spry, cigar‑smoking sportsman, whistles at his panting dogs while his stout friend, the Marquis d’Albon, struggles to keep his balance against the scorching earth. Their banter crackles with sharp wit, as Philip teases the Marquis about forgotten languages and the absurdity of a magistrate’s presence in unfamiliar country.

Together they set out toward the crossroads at Baillet, hoping to reach Cassan before nightfall, but the oppressive heat and a chorus of unseen obstacles already test their patience. Balzac weaves a subtle satire of ambition, bureaucracy, and the fragile pretensions of the aristocracy, letting the landscape mirror the characters’ internal frictions. Listeners will find themselves drawn into a lively, almost theatrical trek that promises both humor and a glimpse of the deeper social currents beneath the comedic chase.