In a dark, narrow street in Paris lives an old widow and her pretty young daughter, sit by the window most days. They share a poor but contented existence, supporting themselves through embroidery work. They see a gentleman in a brown coat pass by in the mornings and return in the evenings. The mother always remarks that he appears either over-worked or in delicate health. The daughter ignores most of her remarks as her mother sees every passer-by as a possible protector for the daughter. But soon the gentleman begins to exchange glances with the daughter. A Second Home is a classic French romance novel by the great French novelist, Honoré de Balzac. It is an interesting investigation of a relationship between a normal person and a religious nutter.