A Zola Dictionary Part 13

E

ECOSSE (S.A.R. LE PRINCE D'), the son of a queen and heir to a throne.

He was tall and strong, with a fair beard and a fresh complexion. He was an habitue of the Theatre des Varietes, and an admirer of Nana, whom he wished to bring to London as a singer. Later, Nana spoke of him with little respect. Nana.

ECREVISSE (L'), a celebrated _demi-mondaine_ of the Second Empire. La Curee.

EMPEREUR, one of the dogs of the shepherd Soulas. He was a fierce animal, and, like his master, hated Jacqueline Cognet. La Terre.

ERNESTINE, a woman who once occupied a room in Bourras's house, and had written her name in candle-smoke on the ceiling. Au Bonheur des Dames.

ESCORAILLES (MARQUIS D'), father of Jules d'Escorailles. "The Escorailles family was one of the oldest in Pla.s.sans, where it was treated with the utmost respect; and Rougon, who in former days had often dragged his worn-down boots past the old Marquis's house, took a pride in protecting and a.s.sisting the young man. The family retained an enthusiastic devotion for Henri V, though it allowed its heir to serve the Empire." The Marquis and his wife visited Paris specially to ask the a.s.sistance of Rougon in furthering the interests of their son. After Rougon's proceedings against the Sisters of the Holy Family, in the interest of the Charbonnels, they again visited Paris to insist on their son retiring from the administration, as they said they could not allow him to be mixed up in any persecution of the Church. Son Excellence Eugene Rougon.

ESCORAILLES (MARQUISE D'), wife of the preceding. Son Excellence Eugene Rougon.

ESCORAILLES (JULES D'), son of the Marquis d'Escorailles, a n.o.bleman of Pla.s.sans, at whose request Rougon got Jules an appointment as auditor at the Council of State. After Rougon's return to office he appointed M.

Escorailles his private secretary. He carried on an intrigue with Madame Bouchard. Son Excellence Eugene Rougon.

ESPANET (MARQUIS D'), husband of the Marquise Adeline. He was made aide-de-camp to the Emperor, but by his riotous conduct scandalized the older n.o.bility. He never appeared in society with his wife. La Curee.

ESPANET (MARQUISE D'), one of the most prominent leaders of society of the Second Empire, was the inseparable companion of Madame Haffner, whose name was always a.s.sociated with hers by the public. They were both schoolfellows and friends of Madame Renee Saccard. La Curee.

EUGENIE, cook for a short time to Madame Theophile Vabre. Pot-Bouille.

EUGENIE, a child buried in the cemetery of Cayenne at Saint-Ouen, where Bongard and Sandoz read the inscription on a poor cross, without railing, set up slantingly across a path, "Eugenie, three days."

L'Oeuvre.

EUGENIE (EMPRESS), referred to in Son Excellence Eugene Rougon, and La Debacle.

EULALIE, a laundress who lived in Rue Montmartre. Gilquin, when visiting her, chanced to overhear in an adjoining room a conversation between some Italians who had come to Paris to a.s.sa.s.sinate the Emperor. Son Excellence Eugene Rougon.

EULALIE, a fish-seller, mistress of Bec-Sale, alias Boit-sans-soif.

L'a.s.sommoir.

EULALIE (LA MERE), a vegetable seller at Montmartre. She lodged with Madame Mechain. L'Argent.

EUSEBE, a choir-boy in the church of Saint-Saturnin at Pla.s.sans. He accompanied Abbe Bourrette to the deathbed of Abbe Compan. La Conquete de Pla.s.sans.

F

f.a.gEROLLES PERE, a manufacturer of zinc objects of art who lived in a gloomy old house in Rue Vieille-du-Temple. His workshop was on the ground floor, above it was a warehouse, and still higher, facing a courtyard, were the rooms in which he lived with his son Henri. He intended to bring up Henri as a designer of ornaments for his own trade, and when the boy showed higher ambitions, taking to painting proper and talking about the School of Art, there were quarrels, blows, a series of falling-outs and reconciliations. Even when the young man had achieved some success, the manufacturer of artistic zincwork, while resigned to letting him have his will, treated him harshly, like a lad who was spoiling his career. Later, in the desire of a decoration for himself, the merchant forgot his former opposition; he held out his son, who had now arrived at notoriety, as an additional claim for his own distinction. L'Oeuvre.

f.a.gEROLLES (HENRI), son of the preceding. In the gloomy house of his father he grew up like a true child of the Paris pavements. Though his father desired him to become a designer of ornaments for use in his trade, the lad had higher ambitions, and desiring to study painting, became a student at the School of Art. Notwithstanding this orthodox training, he was a disciple of Claude Lantier and his somewhat revolutionary band, whom he delighted by sly attacks upon his professors and praise of themselves. He paid particular court to Claude, under whose artistic influence he had come, and though he continued to paint with tricky skill, he no longer talked in anything but the jargon of the new open-air school. This did not prevent him, however, from elsewhere making fun of the adepts of that school, whom he accused of doing their work with a kitchen ladle. He made a success with a picture of an actress before her gla.s.s, which caught the popular taste, and afterwards appeared as an engraving. Taken up by Naudet, the picture-dealer, he began to receive large prices for his work, and by doing everything in his power to make his way in society his position soon became secure.

He was elected a member of the Hanging Committee of the _Salon_, and secured the admission of Claude Lantier's picture _L'Enfant Mort_. He made large sums of money, in the spending of which he was a.s.sisted by Irma Becot. L'Oeuvre.

f.a.n.n.y (MADEMOISELLE), a work-girl in the neighbourhood of Octave Mouret's shop, who was sent there by her employer to match some merinos.

Au Bonheur des Dames.

FAUCHERY (LEON), a journalist and dramatic author, who wrote a piece for the Theatre des Varietes called _La Pet.i.te d.u.c.h.esse_. After numerous liaisons he became for a time the lover of Comtesse Sabine m.u.f.fat, and under the pressure of Comte m.u.f.fat was forced to give to Nana a leading part in _La Pet.i.te d.u.c.h.esse_. Fauchery's liaison with the Comtesse m.u.f.fat merely interrupted for a time one of older standing with Rose Mignon, whose husband appeared to be content with the position of major-domo in a _menage a trois_. Nana.

FAUCHEUR (LE PERE) kept at Bennecourt a small country inn much frequented by artists. In connection with the tavern he carried on a small business in groceries. After the death of the Faucheurs the inn was carried on by their niece Melie. L'Oeuvre.

FAUCHEUR (LA MERE), wife of the preceding. She was a daughter of old Poirette. L'Oeuvre.

FAUCONNIER (MADAME), carried on a laundry business in Paris, and gave employment to Gervaise Macquart after her desertion by Lantier. She continued on friendly terms with Gervaise after the latter's marriage to Coupeau, at which she was present. When drink had brought about the Coupeaus' ruin, Madame Fauconnier again took Gervaise into her employment, giving her work until her increasing carelessness and intemperance made her dismissal necessary. L'a.s.sommoir.

FAUCONNIER (VICTOR), the young son of Madame Fauconnier. He was an idle scamp about four years older than Nana Coupeau, and was her constant playfellow and companion in all kinds of mischief. L'a.s.sommoir.

Nana, in talking over with Satin the events of her childhood, referred to Victor as a youth who had always shown vicious tendencies. Nana.

FAUJAS (ABBE), a priest of Besancon who, having got into some trouble there, was sent to Pla.s.sans by the Government with the view of undermining the political influence of the clergy, who were strongly Legitimist in their views. At Pla.s.sans he took up his residence, along with his mother, in the house of Francois Mouret. At first he kept entirely in the background, but a.s.sisted by Madame Mouret, who had fallen in love with him, and by Madame Felicite Rougon, acting under instructions from her son Eugene, the Minister of State, Faujas soon began to make himself felt in Pla.s.sans. He appeared to take no interest in politics, but little by little he gained power, until "the conquest of Pla.s.sans" was accomplished and a supporter of the Government was elected as deputy. Meantime his influence over Madame Mouret had become complete, and he had practically taken possession of the Mourets' house, his sister and her husband, as well as his mother, living there with him. Thrust aside and neglected, Francois Mouret was wrongfully removed to the asylum at Les Tulettes, where confinement soon unhinged his not over-strong intellect. The Abbe now became even more arrogant, and Madame Mouret was barely tolerated in her own house. Ultimately Francois Mouret escaped from the asylum, and returning by night to his home, set fire to it; along with him, the Abbe Faujas and all his relations perished in the flames. La Conquete de Pla.s.sans.

FAUJAS (MADAME), mother of the preceding. She accompanied the Abbe to Pla.s.sans and took up house with him there. Absolutely devoted to her son, she made herself his slave, and sacrificed everything and every one to his interests. It was largely through her that the gradual ousting of the Mourets from their own home became possible; and to accomplish her ends she stopped short at nothing; seldom speaking, but always watching, she was ready to grasp each opportunity as it arose. Retribution came with the escape of Francois Mouret from the asylum, and Madame Faujas perished along with the other members of her family in the conflagration raised by him. La Conquete de Pla.s.sans.

FAUJAS (OLYMPE). See Madame Olympe Trouche.

FAUQUENOIX, an a.s.sociate of Baron Desrumaux in the department of the mines of Montsou. Germinal.

FAUVELLE, a sugar-refinery at Montsou, which suffered on account of the strike of miners. Germinal.

FAVIER, a salesman in the silk department of "The Ladies' Paradise."

He had for some reason an ill-will towards Denise Baudu and spread scandalous stories about her. Henri Deloche, her friend, hearing him do so on one occasion, threw a gla.s.s of wine in his face. Au Bonheur des Dames.

FAYEUX, a collector of rents at Vendome. He did business in connection with Busch, and also with La Mechain, whose cousin he was said to be. He speculated on the bourse through Mazaud, and after the downfall of the Universal Bank it was found that he had embezzled large sums from persons employing him. L'Argent.

FENIL (ABBE), head of the theological seminary at Pla.s.sans. He was a keen ecclesiastic, with strong Legitimist principles, and from the first took up a position antagonistic to Abbe Faujas. Having great influence with the Bishop of Pla.s.sans, he was for some time able to prevent Faujas from receiving preferment; a hint from Government, however, caused the Bishop to change his views, and Abbe Fenil was for the time routed. It was suspected that he ultimately induced Antoine Macquart to plan the escape of Francois Mouret from the asylum at Les Tulettes; an escape which led to the death of Abbe Faujas. La Conquete de Pla.s.sans.

FERAUD-GIRAUD FRERES, a firm of s.h.i.+p-owners who joined the great transport syndicate formed by Aristide Saccard. L'Argent.

FERNAND, a student of chemistry with Combette at Chene Populeux. He was a cowardly lad, whom fear of the Prussians drove into a fever. La Debacle.

FERNANDE, a chorus-girl at the Theatre des Varietes. Nana.

FETU (MERE), an old woman whom Helene Grandjean visited at the request of Abbe Jouve. At her house Helen frequently met Dr. Deberle, who was attending her professionally at the same time. Below this house was the flat taken by M. Malignon, who had appointed Mere Fetu caretaker, and it was through her that Helene came to know of the a.s.signation between Malignon and Madame Deberle. Une Page d'Amour.

FIFI, the sobriquet of f.a.n.n.y Menu, q.v. Pot-Bouille.

FINE, the sobriquet of Josephine Gavaudan. La Fortune des Rougon.

FINET (ARISTIDE), the founder of the drapery business known as the _Vieil Elbeuf_, in Paris. He was the father-in-law and predecessor of Hauchecorne. Au Bonheur des Dames.

FINET (DESIREE), daughter of the preceding. She married Hauchecorne, her father's princ.i.p.al salesman, who carried on the business. Au Bonheur des Dames.

FINET, a doctor of medicine who resided at Cloyes. He was disgusted by the brutality of his patients, whom he accused of always sending for him when it was too late. His indifference became such that he did not make any inquiries about the death of Rose Fouan, whose end was hastened by her son Buteau, or that of Pere Fouan, who was burned alive. La Terre.