This is a scene set in Napoleon I time in a court of ballroom where two guys Martial and Comte de Montcornet are looking to engage into a romantic happening with Madade de Vaudremont and they find they are not the only ones, being that she has a tremendous fortune. Another girl appear who shades Madame de Baudremont. The story is very short and a nice but not very satisfying glimpse into Balzac's world. The important thing to say is the it is mentioned a "historian of morals" regarding one of the guys, which is what Balzac is regarded as.