Honoré de Balzac 
The Commission in Lunacy [PDF ebook] 

'The Commission in Lunacy'' is regarded as one of the masterpieces by Balzac. The writer narrates about the wife of a slightly unconventional nobleman. She wants her husband to be declared senile so as to have full control of the family's wealth. An engrossing insight into human psychology and a riveting blend of realism and romance. Mesmerizing!

Madame d'Espard appears in numerous stories of The Human Comedy. She and her husband have lived apart for most of their married life, the two children residing with their father. In this short work Madame d'Espard tries to get her husband declared incompetent so that she can control his money as well as her own. Popinot is the very astute judge originally assigned to the case—too astute to suit Madame d'Espard who intrigues to have him removed.