Ferragus Book One of 'The Thirteen' by Honore de Balzac Fiction Literary Historical

<p><strong>But he is here to a certain extent competing with Sue on the latter's own ground.</strong> The notion of the Devorants -- of a secret society of men devoted to each other's interests entirely free from any moral or legal scruple possessed of considerable means in wealth ability and position all working together by fair means or foul for good ends or bad -- is no doubt rather seducing to the imagination at all times. . . -- from George Saintsbury's Introduction</p>