The Cross of Berny

The Cross of Berny, by Emile de
Girardin

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Title: The Cross of Berny
Author: Emile de Girardin
Release Date: August 15, 2004 [EBook #13191]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
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THE CROSS OF BERNY
OR

IRENE'S LOVERS
BY MADAME EMILE DE GIRARDIN MM. THÉOPHILE
GAUTIER JULES SANDEAU AND MERY

PREFACE TO THE AMERICAN EDITION.
Literary partnerships have often been tried, but very rarely with success
in the more imaginative branches of literature. Occasionally two minds
have been found to supplement each other sufficiently to produce good
joint writing, as in the works of MM. Erckman-Chatrian; but when the
partnership has included more than two, it has almost invariably proved
a failure, even when composed of individually the brightest intellects,
and where the highest hopes have been entertained. Standing almost if
not quite alone, in contrast with these failures of the past, THE CROSS
OF BERNY is the more remarkable; and has achieved the success not
merely of being the simply harmonious joint work of four individual
minds,--but of being in itself, and entirely aside from its interest as a
literary curiosity, a great book.
A high rank, then, is claimed for it not upon its success as a literary
partnership, for that at best would but excite a sort of curious interest,
but upon its intrinsic merit as a work of fiction. The spirit of rivalry in
which it was undertaken was perhaps not the best guarantee of harmony
in the tone of the whole work, but it has certainly added materially to
the wit and brilliancy of the letters, while harmony has been preserved
by much tact and skill. No one of its authors could alone have written
THE CROSS OF BERNY--together, each one has given us his best,
and their joint effort will long live to their fame.
The shape in which it appears, as a correspondence between four
characters whose names are the pseudonyms of the four authors of the
book, although at first it may seem to the reader a little awkward, will
upon reflection be seen to be wisely chosen, since it allows to each of
the prominent characters an individuality otherwise very difficult of
attainment. In this way also any differences of style which there may be,

tend rather to heighten the effect, and to increase the reality of the
characters.
The title under which the original French edition appeared has been
retained in the translation, although since its applicability depends upon
a somewhat local allusion, the general reader may possibly fail to
appreciate it.

ORIGINAL PREFACE TO THE FRENCH EDITION.
The Cross of Berny was, it will be remembered, a brilliant tourney,
where Madame de Girardin (née Delphine Gay), Théophile Gautier,
Jules Sandeau and Méry, broke lances like valiant knights of old.
We believe we respond to the general wish by adding to the
Bibliothèque Nouvelle this unique work, which assumed and will ever
retain a high position among the literary curiosities of the day.
Not feeling called upon to decide who is the victor in the tilt, we
merely lift the pseudonymous veil concealing the champions.
The letters signed Irene de Chateaudun are by Madame de Girardin. " "
" Edgar de Meilhan " M. Théophile Gautier. " " " Raymond de Villiers
" M. Jules Sandeau. " " " Roger de Monbert " M. Méry.
Who are recognised as the four most brilliant of our celebrated
contemporaneous authors.--EDITOR.

CROSS OF BERNY.

I.
IRENE DE CHATEAUDUN to MME. LA VICOMTESSE DE
BRAIMES, Hotel de la Préfecture, GRENOBLE (Isère).

PARIS, May 16th, 18--.
You are a great prophetess, my dear Valentino. Your predictions are
verified.
Thanks to my peculiar disposition, I am already in the most deplorably
false position that a reasonable mind and romantic heart could ever
have contrived.
With you, naturally and instinctively, I have always been sincere;
indeed it would be difficult to deceive one whom I have so often seen
by a single glance read the startled conscience, and lead it from the
ways of insolence and shame back into the paths of rectitude.
It is to you I would confide all my troubles; your counsel may save me
ere it be too late.
You must not think me absurd in ascribing all my unhappiness to what
is popularly regarded as "a piece of