Chapter 20

PECQUEUX, a stoker in the employment of the Western Railway Company. He was married to Mere Victoire, the old nurse of Severine Aubry. His original intention was to qualify as an engine-driver, but time passed without advancement, and later there was an insuperable barrier in his own conduct, for he was given to drinking bouts which converted him for the time into a savage animal, capable of any violence. His wife lived at Paris, while Philomene Sauvagnat helped him to pass the hours he was compelled to spend at Havre, an arrangement which had the concurrence of Victoire. Pecqueux had the devotion of a dog for his comrade Jacques Lantier, who concealed his vices and shared with him a love for their engine, “La Lison.” Philomene, however, excited his jealousy by her attentions to Lantier, and the former friendship of the two comrades became changed to fierce enmity. At length it happened that one night, as their engine was drawing eighteen trucks of soldiers towards the seat of war in Prussia, Pecqueux in a sudden access of madness attacked Lantier, and, after a fierce struggle on the narrow foot-plate, the two fell off, and were cut in pieces beneath the wheels. La Bete Humaine.

PEIROTTE, receiver of taxes at Plassans. He was taken as a hostage by the Republican insurgents and was inadvertently shot by the troops which crushed the rising. La Fortune des Rougon.

PEQUEUR DES SAULAIES (M.), sub-prefect of Plassans. He fell into disfavour with the Government on account of the election of a Legitimist Deputy. For some time he was afraid to compromise himself with Abbe Faujas, but having received a hint from Madame de Condamin, who had influential friends in Paris, he allied himself with the Abbe. The result was the election of Delangre, who though nominally independent, was actually the Government candidate. La Conquete de Plassans.

PEQUIGNOT, a friend of the Lorilleux. He was a furniture dealer. L’Assommoir.

PERDIGUET, a singer known to Malignon, who promised to take him to the children’s party at Deberle’s house. Une Page d’Amour.

PERE COLOMBE, owner of the _Assommoir_, a public-house which was largely the scene of the downfall of Coupeau and Gervaise Macquart, his wife. L’Assommoir.

PEROU (LA MERE), an old woman employed by Gourd, the concierge, to do cleaning work. Terrorized by his brutality she agreed to accept less wages. Pot-Bouille.

PHASIE (AUNT), was the wife of Misard, and the mother of Flore and Louisette. She was a cousin of the Lantiers and was godmother to Jacques, who was left in her charge when his parents went to Paris. Her first husband died, leaving her with two daughters, and she married for a second time Misard, a little man, cunning and avaricious, who was five years her senior. Jacques found them later, living in Normandy at Croix-de-Maufras on the line to Havre, where Misard was signalman, and his wife had charge of the level crossing. It was a miserable existence, without neighbours or any one to speak to, without even anything to look at, except the trains constantly rushing past. Aunt Phasie, as she had always been called by Jacques Lantier, was a tall, handsome woman, but since her second marriage she had aged so rapidly that at forty-five she looked over sixty. The truth was that between her and Misard there was going on a duel to the death; Aunt Phasie had received a legacy of a thousand francs from her father, and this she obstinately refused to allow her husband to share, having indeed hidden the money to prevent him from taking it. Misard, overcome by avarice, slowly killed his wife with poison placed in the salt, but, though she had the strongest suspicions, she would nether take action against him nor tell him the hiding-place of her little hoard. And so she died, carrying the secret with her; but in the end she triumphed, for search as he might, Misard never discovered the hidden treasure. La Bete Humaine.

PICHINETTE, a horse entered for the Grand Prix de Paris. It was withdrawn before the race. Nana.

PICHON (JULES), a clerk who lived in the house in Rue de Choiseul occupied also by Octave Mouret. His means were small, and he was obliged to work hard, frequently till late at night, his wife being necessarily left much alone. Pot-Bouille.

PICHON (MARIE), wife of the preceding. She was a daughter of M. and Madame Vuillaume, by whom she was strictly brought up. A dreamy unpractical woman, she fell under the influence of Octave Mouret, her next-door neighbour, and a liaison existed between them for a considerable time, with results which caused much annoyance to her parents. Pot-Bouille.

PICHON (LILITTE), infant daughter of the preceding. Pot-Bouille.

PICHON (ROSALIE), Madame Helene Grandjean’s maid-servant. She was an honest country girl who had been brought to Paris by Abbe Jouve on the recommendation of a village priest, in whose house she had been brought up. She served her mistress faithfully, and ruled Zephyrin Lacour, her sweetheart, with a hand of iron. Une Page d’Amour.

PICOT, a soldier of infantry who belonged to the first division of the seventh Army Corps. After the defeats of Wissenbourg and Froeschwiller, Picot, half dead with fatigue and slightly wounded, was left behind in a ditch with his comrade Coutard of the first corps. They were only able to rejoin the army at Rheims on 22nd August, 1870, arriving with their clothes worn out and covered with mud, and having more the appearance of bandits than of soldiers. La Debacle.

PICOU (M.), a townsman of Plassans who expressed disbelief in the success of the _Coup d’Etat_. La Fortune des Rougon.

PIED-DE-CELERI, a friend of Coupeau. He had a wooden leg, from which he received his nickname. L’Assommoir.

PIEDEFER (LAURE), kept a cheap restaurant in Rue des Martyrs, which was much frequented by a certain class of demi-mondaines. Laure appeared to be on intimate terms with her customers, as they usually kissed her when they entered. Nana.

PIEDEFER (ZOE), an artist’s model who lived in Rue Campagne-Premiere. She was a tall brunette. L’Oeuvre.

PIERRE, Dr. Deberle’s butler. Une Page d’Amour.

PIERRE, an employee at _Au Bonheur des Dames_. He was waiter in the dining-room of the shop assistants. Au Bonheur des Dames.

PIERRON, a miner employed at the Voreux pit. He was a widower with a little girl aged eight, Lydie, when he married for the second time, the daughter of La Brule. Though he took part in the strike he betrayed his companions, giving information to the company through Dansaert, his wife’s lover. After the attack on the pit Pierron was arrested by mistake, and was taken off with handcuffs at his wrists as far as Marchiennes, to the great amusement of his mates. He was subsequently promoted to be captain of a gang, but his excessive zeal made him disliked by his men. Germinal.

PIERRON (LYDIE), daughter of the preceding, was a fragile child, who when ten years old was already working in the pit. Her constant companions were Jeanlin Maheu and Bebert Levaque, with whom she made many raids in search of food during the strike. She was killed by the volley fired by the troops at the strikers attacking the Voreux pit. Germinal.

PIERRONNE (LA), the second wife of Pierron, was a daughter of La Brule. She was allowed by the Company to sell sweetmeats and biscuits, which were a considerable source of revenue. Dansaert, the head captain of the Voreux pit, was her lover, and through him she obtained various favours, giving him in exchange information as to the intentions of the strikers. After the strike she was enabled to acquire the little _Estaminet du Progres_. Germinal.

PIFARD, an usher at the college of Plassans, whose wonderful nose kept betraying his presence behind doors when its owner went eavesdropping. L’Oeuvre.

PILLERAULT, a speculator on the Bourse, whose guiding principle was recklessness; he declared that he plunged into catastrophes whenever he paused to reflect. He was ruined by the failure of the Universal Bank. L’Argent.

PIOT AND RIVOIRE, a firm of furniture-dealers, whose business was seriously affected when Octave Mouret added a furniture department to “The Ladies’ Paradise.” Au Bonheur des Dames.

PIQUETTE kept an _estaminet_ at Montsou, where Chaval lodged. Germinal.

PLOUGUERN (M. DE) was a member of the Chamber of Deputies during the reign of Louis Philippe. After the Revolution of February, 1848, he manifested a sudden affection for the Republic, and later, when the Emperor granted him the refuge of the Senate, he was a Bonapartist. He was a man of high birth and breeding, and though a sceptic, defended religion and family life. During a journey in Italy he met Comtesse Balbi, whose lover he remained for thirty years. According to some, Clorinde Balbi was his daughter. Son Excellence Eugene Rougon.

PLUCHART, a former workman who was now secretary of a branch of the International Association of workers. He had been Etienne Lantier’s foreman at Lille, and at his request came to Montsou to address the miners there. As a result of his visit ten thousand miners joined the International Association. Germinal.

POIRETTE (LE PERE), a countryman of Bennecourt, with small eyes and the face of a wolf. He was the owner of an old cottage, which Claude Lantier and Christine rented from him for two hundred and fifty francs a year. L’Oeuvre.

POISSON (M.), who was originally a cabinet-maker, served his time as a soldier, and ultimately got a place as a policeman, which he considered more certain and respectable. He married Virginie, who afterwards went into business as a dealer in groceries and sweetmeats in the shop previously occupied by Gervaise Coupeau. Auguste Lantier, who had for some time lodged with the Coupeaus, remained with the Poissons, and lived at their expense. M. Poisson affected not to observe the resulting liaison between his wife and Lantier. L’Assommoir.

POISSON (MADAME), wife of the preceding. See Virginie. L’Assommoir.

POLAND, a pet rabbit which belonged to Rasseneur, and was a favourite of Souvarine. Germinal.

POMARE (LA REINE), a rag-picker, who had formerly been one of the handsomest women in Paris. Now, for the sake of a laugh, the women of the district made her drink absinthe, after which the street boys would chase her and throw stones. Nana.

PORQUIER (DR.) the fashionable medical man of Plassans. He had considerable influence, and this was secured by Abbe Faujas on behalf of the Government’s candidate for the representation of Plassans by the promise of an appointment for his son, Guillaume, a young man who had hitherto given him much trouble. La Conquete de Plassans.

PORQUIER (GUILLAUME), son of Dr. Porquier, had been sent to Paris to study, but did nothing there but get into debt. He caused his father much distress, and was supposed to afford the worst possible example to the youth of Plassans, whom he was believed to lead into all kinds of mischief. Ultimately, as a reward to his father, who had supported Delangre as representative of Plassans, Porquier was appointed chief clerk at the post office. La Conquete de Plassans.

POUILLAUD, a fellow-pupil of Claude Lantier and Pierre Sandoz at the college of Plassans. While there he was an inveterate practical joker, one of his escapades being the transformation of Professor Lalubie’s room into a _chapelle ardente_. L’Oeuvre.

POWELL (MISS), second assistant in the corset department at _Au Bonheur des Dames_. She was able to play the piano, a talent of which the other assistants were jealous. Au Bonheur des Dames.

POZZO (LUIGI), Secretary to the Sardinian Minister at Paris. “Diplomatist, painter, musician, and lover.” A friend of Clorinde Balbi. Son Excellence Eugene Rougon.

PRICE, an English jockey who mounted the filly Nana in the Grand Prix de Paris. Nana.

PRINCE IMPERIAL. Referred to in _Son Excellence Eugene Rougon_.

PROUANE, a retired non-commissioned officer in the navy, who acted as beadle to Abbe Harteur, as well as fulfilling the duties of Mayor’s clerk. He eked out a livelihood by gathering shell-fish, but when he had any money he was usually in a state of intoxication. La Joie de Vivre.

PRULLIERE, an actor at the Theatre des Varietes, where he played in _La Blonde Venus_ and _La Petite Duchesse_. Nana.

PRUNAIRE (LE PERE), a maker of sabots, who lived at Vivet. Furious at the conduct of his daughter Clara, he threatened to go to Paris and break her bones with kicks of his sabots. Au Bonheur des Dames.

PRUNAIRE (CLARA), daughter of a clog-maker in the forest of Vilet, came to Paris and got a situation in “The Ladies’ Paradise.” She lived a fast life, and, after alluring Colomban away from Genevieve Baudu, his intended wife, she ultimately disappeared. Au Bonheur des Dames.

PUECH, senior partner of the firm of Puech and Lacamp, oil-dealers in Plassans; was father of Felicite Puech. La Fortune des Rougon.

PUECH AND LACAMP, a firm of oil-dealers in Plassans, who were in financial difficulties when Pierre Rougon married Felicite, the daughter of the senior partner. The money put into the business by Rougon retrieved the position of the firm, and, the two partners having retired soon afterwards, he acquired the sole interest in it. La Fortune des Rougon.

PUECH (FELICITE). See Madame Felicite Rougon.

PUTOIS (MADAME), one of the workwomen employed by Gervaise Coupeau in her laundry. She was a little, lean woman of forty-five, “who worked at her ironing table without even taking off her bonnet, a black bonnet trimmed with green ribbons turning yellow.” In character she was severely respectable. L’Assommoir.

Q

QUANDIEU, the oldest captain of the Montsou mines. During the strike, the energetic position taken up by him saved the Mirou pit from destruction by the infuriated strikers. Germinal.

QUENU (MADAME) was a widow with one son when she married her second husband, M. Quenu, a clerk in the sub-prefecture at Le Vigan. Three years after, M. Quenu died, leaving a son. Madame Quenu lavished all her affection on Florent, her elder son, and stinted herself to the verge of starvation in order that he might continue his legal studies. Before these were completed she succumbed to the hardship of her life. Le Ventre de Paris.

QUENU, the half-brother of Florent. After the death of his mother, he was taken to Paris by Florent, who supported him by teaching. He was at first idle and unsettled, but after Florent’s arrest he was taken in by his uncle Gradelle, to whose business of pork-butcher, as well as to a considerable sum of money, he ultimately succeeded. After his uncle’s death he married Lisa Macquart, who had previously assisted in the shop, and they had a daughter, Pauline. Business prospered, and the Quenus were soon in a position to remove to larger premises. Florent on his return from exile was kindly received by Quenu, who later on took no part in the efforts made by his wife to induce his brother to leave voluntarily. He was ignorant of his wife’s action with reference to the subsequent arrest of Florent. Le Ventre de Paris.

He died of apoplexy in 1863, six months after the death of his wife, leaving a will under which M. Chanteau, his cousin became the guardian of his daughter Pauline. La Joie de Vivre.

QUENU (MADAME LISA), wife of the preceding. See Lisa Macquart.

QUENU (PAULINE), born 1852, daughter of Quenu, the pork-butcher, and Lisa Macquart, his wife. A quiet, amiable child, she unwittingly gave Mlle. Saget, who bullied her, information regarding her uncle Florent’s history, which led to the clamour against him in the Market, and ultimately to his arrest. Le Ventre de Paris.

After the death of her father, who left her a fortune of a hundred and fifty thousand francs, Pauline went in 1863 to live at Bonneville with M. Chanteau, her guardian. She soon endeared herself to her relatives, and became much attached to her cousin Lazare. As she grew up and her nature developed, it became more and more her pleasure to sacrifice herself to her friends. She allowed her fortune to be squandered by the Chanteaus, and though engaged to be married to Lazare, she released him in order that he might marry another girl with whom he had become infatuated. After his mania became acute, it was she who endeavoured to comfort him, and to dispel his unreasoning fear of death. She never married. La Joie de Vivre.

After the death of Chanteau, she remained at Bonneville, resolved never to marry, in order that she might devote herself entirely to Lazare’s little son, Paul. Le Docteur Pascal.

QUINETTE, a glover in Rue Neuve Saint-Augustine, whose business was seriously affected by the competition of “The Ladies’ Paradise.” Au Bonheur des Dames.

QUITTARD (AUGUSTE), son of Francoise Quittard. He was a child of six years of age, who was so ill of typhoid fever that he could not be removed from Bazeilles when the place was attacked by the Prussians. Early in the day, his mother was killed by a cannon ball, and the poor child lay for hours tossing with fever and calling for her. He was burned to death in his bed, as the Prussians, infuriated by the length of the struggle, wantonly set fire to the village. La debacle.

QUITTARD (FRANCOISE), widow of a mason, and now caretaker of the dye-works at Bazeilles, which belonged to Delaherche. Before the battle all the workers made their escape into Belgium, but Francoise was unable to leave on account of the illness of her little son. Early in the attack by the Prussians, the unfortunate woman was killed by a cannon ball. La Debacle.

R

RABIER, a tanner of Beaumont. He was a brother of Madame Franchomme, and after her death she left the child Angelique in the care of him and his wife. They treated the girl with such cruelty that she ultimately ran away, finding shelter with the Huberts. Le Reve.

RACHAEL, the maid-servant in Auguste Vabre’s household. As Octave Mouret and Madame Vabre did not bribe her sufficiently, she revealed their intrigue to Vabre. She acted as his housekeeper for some time, but had to leave after the reconciliation between him and his wife. Pot-Bouille.

RAMBAUD (M.), half-brother of Abbe Jouve, had a large business in the Rue de Rambuteau, where he sold oil and other southern produce. Along with Abbe Jouve he showed much kindness to Helene Grandjean after the death of her husband, and was a constant visitor at her house. Later on, the Abbe tried to arrange a marriage between Rambaud and Helene, but at her request the decision was delayed. Meantime the love episode with Doctor Deberle intervened, followed by the death of Jeanne. Two years afterwards the marriage took place, Rambaud having previously sold his Paris business and removed to Marseilles. Une Page d’Amour.

He retired from business and went to live at Marseilles. Having by his marriage become a cousin of Madame Lisa Quenu, he was appointed a member of the family council which nominally had charge of her daughter’s fortune. La Joie de Vivre.

Rambaud led a happy life with his wife, whom he adored. Le Docteur Pascal.

RAMBAUD (MADAME), wife of the preceding. See Helene Mouret.

RAMOND (DR.), a pupil and fellow-practitioner of Dr. Pascal. He wished to marry Clotilde Rougon, but she refused him, and he subsequently married Mademoiselle Leveque. When Doctor Pascal was seized with an affection of the heart, Ramond diagnosed the nature of the illness, and subsequently attended him with unremitting care until his death. Le Docteur Pascal.

RAMOND (MADAME), wife of the preceding. See Mademoiselle Leveque. Le Docteur Pascal.

RANVIER (ABBE), succeeded Abbe Jouve as cure at Montsou. He was of socialistic tendencies, and blamed the middle classes, who he said robbed the Church, for all the horrors produced by the strike at Montsou. Upon the troops who had been called on to fire upon the strikers, he called down the anger of God, predicting an hour of justice in which fire would descend from heaven to exterminate the bourgeoisie. He was finally removed by the Bishop as too compromising. Germinal.

RASSENEUR kept a tavern with the sign _A l’Avantage_ between the settlement of the Deux-Cent-Quarante and the Voreux pit. He was formerly a good workman, but as he was an excellent speaker, and placed himself at the head of every strike, he was dismissed by the Mining Company. His wife already held a licence, and when he was thrown out of work he became an innkeeper himself. It was in his house that Etienne Lantier found lodgings when he first came to Montsou, and Souvarine also lodged there. Rasseneur’s readiness of speech gave him great influence with the miners, but a rivalry arose between him and Lantier, whose new theories caught the popular ear. This jealousy caused him to take a side against the strike, solely because it had been proposed by Lantier, and this attitude made him very unpopular. But after the failure of the strike, which he had all along predicted, the inconstancy of the crowd turned in his favour and he soon regained his old popularity. Germinal.

RASSENEUR (MADAME), wife of the preceding. At the time her husband was dismissed from the pit, she already held a licence, and they subsequently worked together to extend the business, in which they had considerable success. She was much more radical in politics than her husband, but during the strike trouble was careful to show extreme politeness to everyone. Germinal.

RASTOIL, a neighbour of Francois Mouret. He was a rich man about sixty years of age, who had been president of the civil tribunal of Plassans for over twenty years. He was a Legitimist, and his house was used as a convenient meeting-place for the party. For some time he refused to compromise his political position with Abbe Faujas, who had all along concealed his opinions. Ultimately, however, he supported the candidate for the representation of Plassans proposed by Faujas, for which he was rewarded by an appointment for his son. La Conquete de Plassans.

RASTOIL (MADAME), wife of the preceding, was a listless and somewhat prudish woman whose old entanglement with M. Delangre was still remembered with amusement in the cafes. She was consulted by Madame Mouret regarding the Home for Girls proposed by Abbe Faujas, and ultimately agreed to act on the committee. La Conquete de Plassans.

RASTOIL (ANGELINE), elder daughter of M. Rastoil, the president of the civil tribunal of Plassans. Though twenty-six years old, and now very yellow and shrewish-looking, she still adopted the role of a young girl, and had hopes of securing a husband. La Conquete de Plassans.

RASTOIL (AURELIE), second daughter of M. Rastoil. Like her sister Angeline, she was plain-looking, and posed as a girl fresh from school, in the uncertain hope of gaining a husband. La Conquete de Plassans.

RASTOIL (SEVERIN), son of M. Rastoil, the president of the civil tribunal of Plassans. “He was a tall young man of five and twenty, with a badly shaped skull and a dull brain, who had been just called to the Bar, thanks to the position which his father held. The latter was anxiously dreaming of making him a substitute, despairing of his ever succeeding in winning any practice for himself.” On the suggestion of Abbe Faujas he took a share in starting the Club for Young Men at Plassans. After the election of M. Delangre as representative of Plassans, Rastoil received the appointment of assistant public procurator at Faverolles. La Conquete de Plassans.

RAVAUD, a captain of the 106th Regiment of the line, commanded by Colonel de Vineuil. A young soldier in his company was the first of the wounded to be taken to the ambulance in Delaherche’s house on 1st September, 1870. In March, 1871, captain Ravaud was at Paris, in a regiment of recent formation, the 124th of the line. Jean Macquart was corporal in his company in this regiment. La Debacle.

READING (LORD), proprietor of a racing stable. Bramah, one of his horses, once gained the Grand Prix de Paris. Nana.