Oops.

Lost Illusions.

Part 1, ch 3, Ms. Wormeley nods, translating the French "air" to English as "air" rather than "aria".

Du Chatelet was called upon to accompany Monsieur de Bartas, who murdered Figaro's grand air [sic].

The way once opened for music, the company was obliged to listen to a chivalric song, written under the Empire by Chateaubriand, and sung by du Chatelet.

BTW, why is Dickens a satirist while Balzac is a realist?

Is it only want of a satisfactory hero or heroine?

Or a happy ending?

Near as I can tell, Balzac is simply more dismal.

He is also more absurd and bombastic, but that can't be it.