邦斯舅舅Cousin Pons(B)

Mild,harmlessanduglytobehold,theimpoverishedPonsisanageingmusicianwhosebrieffamehasfallentonothing.LivingaplacidParisianlifeasabachelorinasharedapartmentwithhisfriendSchmucke,hemaintainsonlytwopassions:adevotiontofinedininginthecompanyofwealthybutdisdainfulrelatives,andadedicationtothecollectionofantiques.Whentheserelativesbecomeawareofthetruevalueofhisartcollection,however,theirsneeringcontemptfortheparasiticPonsrapidlyfallsawayastheystruggletoobtainapieceoftheweakeningman'sinheritance.TakingitsplaceintheHumanComedyasacompaniontoCousinBette,thedarklyhumorous"CousinPons"isamongofthelastandgreatestofBalzac'snovelsconcerningFrenchurbansociety:acynical,pessimisticbutneverdespairingconsiderationofhumannature.