Complete Works of Emile Zola (1890 page)

JOSSERAND (HORTENSE), elder daughter of M. Josserand. Her mother endeavoured to secure a husband for her, but she made her own choice, selecting one Verdier, a lawyer. The marriage was put off from time to time as Verdier had got entangled with a woman from whom he found separation difficult. Pot-Bouille.

JOSSERAND (LEON), elder son of M. Josserand. He was a young man of ambition, who hoped to rise through the influence of Madame Dambreville, whose lover he became. Ultimately she arranged a marriage between him and her niece Raymonde, who brought him a large dowry. Soon afterwards by the same means he was appointed
Maitre des Requetes
. Pot-Bouille.

JOSSERAND (MADAME LEON), wife of the preceding. See Raymonde. Pot-Bouille.

JOSSERAND (SATURNIN), younger son of M. Josserand. He was a powerful young man of twenty-five, whose mind had been seriously affected by an attack of brain fever; though not actually insane, he was subject to fits of blind fury whenever anybody annoyed him. When his sister Berthe was a little girl, he nursed her through a long illness, and since he saved her life he adored her with a deep, passionate devotion. The preparations for her marriage to Auguste Vabre affected him so seriously that his removal to an asylum became necessary, and he remained there for some time. On his release he went to live with his sister and her husband, but domestic trouble having arisen, his mind again became so unhinged that he made an attempt on the life of his brother-in-law and had again to be taken to an asylum. Pot-Bouille.

JOUVE (ABBE), an officiating priest at Notre Dame de Grace, the parish church of Passy. He had known M. Grandjean at Marseilles, and showed much kindness to Helene after the death of her husband, assisting her in settling up her affairs. Along with M. Rambaud, his half-brother, he was a regular visitor at Helene’s house, and later endeavoured to arrange a marriage between her and his brother. He was devoted to Jeanne Grandjean, and helped to nurse her during her fatal illness. An amiable, kind-hearted man, he was greatly beloved by his parishioners. Une Page d’Amour.

JOUVE, a retired captain in the army, and afterwards one of the four inspectors at “The Ladies’ Paradise.” In addition to acting as spy on the staff he watched the customers, and it was he who detected Madame de Boves in the act of stealing some fine lace. He made certain advances to Denis Baudu which she resented, and in consequence he afterwards showed considerable ill-will towards her. Au Bonheur des Dames.

JUILLERAT (DOCTOR), an old physician who attended most of the inhabitants of the Rue de Choiseul. He was a man of only average abilities who had built up a large practice by hard work. His views were somewhat advanced, and he had many arguments with Abbe Mauduit, with whom he frequently came in contact at the bedsides of his patients. Pot-Bouille.

JULES, the lover of La Sarriette. He lived on her earnings as a fruit-dealer. Le Ventre de Paris.

JULES, one of the soldiers sent to Montsou during the strike. He was born at Plogof, where his mother and sister still resided. One night while he was on guard at the Voreux mine he was murdered by Jeanlin Maheu, who with the assistance of Etienne Lantier carried the body to a gallery of the mine, where they buried it under a fall of rock. Germinal.

JULES (MADAME), Nana’s dresser at the Theatre des Varietes. Nana.

JULIE, cook in the employment of the Duveyriers. Pot-Bouille.

JULIEN, butler in the employment of Nana in the Avenue de Villiers. He left the house with a large sum, as Comte Muffat, being jealous, wished to be freed from his presence. Nana.

JUSSELIN (PIERRE-FRANCOIS), a protege of M. de Marsy. Eugene Rougon refused to nominate him as an officer of the Legion of Honour, and gave the decoration which had been intended for him to Bejuin. Son Excellence Eugene Rougon.

JEZEUR (MADAME), a neighbour of the Josserands in the Rue de Choiseul. Her husband had left her after ten days of married life, and thenceforth she lived alone in quiet lodgings. Very little was known of her circumstances or mode of life. Pot-Bouille.

K

KAHN (M.), son of a Jewish banker at Bordeaux; a deputy who was engaged in a scheme for the construction of a railway from Niort to Angers. He was chiefly anxious for this, as the proposed line would pass through Bressure, where he had some blast-furnaces, the value of which it would considerably increase. Rougon supported him energetically, and had almost secured the grant when his retirement from office delayed the scheme for some years. Soon after Rougon’s appointment as Minister of the Interior the grant was obtained, and he accompanied Kahn to Niort to attend the inauguration of the scheme. Son Excellence Eugene Rougon.

KAHN (MADAME), wife of the preceding. She lived a very retired life at Paris. Son Excellence Eugene Rougon.

KELLER (LES), well-known leaders of society in Paris. It was at their house that Baroness Sandorff first met Gundermann. L’Argent.

KOLB (M.), a banker whose business consisted to a large extent in gold arbitrage, buying foreign coins, and melting them into gold bars. He was a man of Jewish origin, and having heard that Daigremont was to be connected with the Universal Bank, he readily agreed to become a director. Being a cautious man, however, he sold all his shares before the final collapse. L’Argent.

L

LABORDETTE, a young man who was well known in racing circles, and was specially popular with women, as he was always ready to render them little services. Through his relations with the world of trainers and jockeys he had always the latest information as to races. He made himself very useful to Nana when she was setting up a stable of her own, and assisted her in the selection of servants. Nana.

LACAILLE, a customer of Madame Francois, the market gardener. He attended the Revolutionary meetings in Lebrigre’s cafe. Le Ventre de Paris.

LACAMP. See Puech and Lacamp.

LACASSAGNE, a dealer in feathers and artificial flowers, whose business was ruined by the competition of Octave Mouret’s establishment. Au Bonheur des Dames.

LACHESNAYE (DE), judge at the Rouen Court of appeal, was the husband of Berthe Grandmorin, whom he somewhat resembled in character. He was a little man, dry and yellow, who had been a judge at the Court of Appeal from the age of thirty-six; he had been decorated, thanks to the influence of his father-in-law, and to the services which his father had rendered on the High Commissions at the time of the
Coup d’Etat
. He was disliked by Denizet, the examining magistrate, in whose eyes he represented the class of judicial functionary who attained position by wealth and influence. Lachesnaye was incensed at the will of his father-in-law, Grandmorin, who left fully half of his fortune to women of all classes, most of them unknown to his family. La Bete Humaine.

LACHESNAYE (MADAME DE), wife of the preceding. See Berthe Grandmorin. La Bete Humaine.

LACOUR (ZEPHYRIN), a young lad from the same village as Rosalie, whose sweetheart he was. He was drawn in the conscription and sent to Paris, where, by permission of Madame Grandjean, he came to see Rosalie, her maid, every Sunday. He was a good-hearted lad, whose ambition was to get out of the army, marry Rosalie, and return to his native village. Une Page d’Amour.

LADICOURT (BARONNE DE), a lady who lived at Vouziers. Captain Beaudoin lunched at her house on 26th August, 1870, at the hour when the Seventh Army Corps was taking up its position for battle. La Debacle.

LADRICOURT (COMTE DE), father of the Baroness Sandorff. He was a confirmed gambler, and a man of brutal manners. He died of apoplexy, completely ruined, after a series of disgraceful failures. L’Argent.

LA FALOISE (HECTOR DE), a youth who came from the country to Paris in order to complete his education. Thanks to the death of an uncle, he was very rich, and his chief ambition was to be in everything ultra Parisian. He posed as a man who had experienced everything, and who no longer thought anything worthy of being taken seriously. Introduced behind the scenes of the Theatre des Varietes by his cousin Fauchery, he met Nana, who did him the honour of ruining him without much loss of time. When his money was done, he returned to the country in the hope of marrying a distant relation who was both ugly and pious. Nana.

LAFOUASSE, a tavern-keeper in the neighbourhood of Plassans, between the old demesne of Paradou and the village of Artaud. He was treated by Dr. Pascal Rougon for ataxy, but died after a hypodermic injection of a serum with which the doctor was experimenting. Le Docteur Pascal.

LAGARDE (EDMOND), a sergeant in the 6th Regiment of the line. At the most his age was twenty-three, but he did not appear more than eighteen. He took part in the battle of Sedan, and was wounded in the left arm, which was broken by a bullet. His father, who was a shopkeeper in Paris, was a customer of Delaherche, and he was removed to the house of the manufacturer, where he was treated as one of the family. A handsome lad, he aroused the pity of Gilberte Delaherche, whose lover he became. La Debacle.

LAGRIFOUL (MARQUIS DE), the Legitimist Deputy for Plassans. His election came as a severe blow to the Government, and to M. Pequeur des Saulaies, the sub-prefect of Plassans, who was held responsible for it. In reality, the election had been largely influenced by the clergy, combined with the old nobility. It was to counteract this influence that the Government sent Abbe Faujas to Plassans. The Marquis being a man of poor abilities, whose public appearances were disappointing, his overthrow was rendered easier and more complete. La Conquete de Plassans.

LA JOLIE DAME, a customer at Octave Mouret’s shop,
Au Bonheur des Dames
. She was a favourite with all the salesmen, and as no one knew her name she was always referred to as “The Pretty Lady.” Au Bonheur des Dames.

LALUBIE, teacher of the sixth form at the college of Plassans. He found one day his room transformed into a
chapelle ardente
, thanks to his pupils led by Pouillard. After he recovered from his fright he set a heavy punishment for the whole class. He married the daughter of Galissard, the haberdasher at Plassans. L’Oeuvre.

LAMBERTHIER, an assistant at the
Halles Centrales
. Josephine Dejoie was at one time cook in his house. L’Argent.

LAMBERTHON (M. DE), a Deputy who discussed with M. La Rouquette the wisdom of the Emperor conceding the privilege of presenting an address to the Crown. Son Excellence Eugene Rougon.

LAMBOURDIEU, a shopkeeper at Cloyes, who sold Parisian novelties in all the villages within a radius of five or six miles. La Terre.

LANDOIS (AUGUSTE), assistant in Quenu’s business. He came to Paris from Troyes to perfect himself in his trade, and having little money, intended to set up for himself as a pork-butcher. He was engaged to his cousin Augustine Landois, who was also employed by Quenu. He took a dislike to Florent, and wrote an anonymous letter denouncing him to the Prefect of Police. Le Ventre de Paris.

LANDOIS (AUGUSTINE) came to Quenu’s establishment to learn shop management. She was engaged to her cousin Auguste Landois. Le Ventre de Paris.

LANGLADE (DE), Prefect of Deux-Sevres. He was accused of dissolute conduct, and was superseded in his office by Du Poizat. Son Excellence Eugene Rougon.

LANTIER (AUGUSTE), the lover of Gervaise Macquart; he accompanied her to Paris, when she left home with their two children. La Fortune des Rougon.

Soon after their arrival in Paris, he deserted Gervaise for a girl named Adele, with whom he lived for several years, during which he appears to have done little work. After Adele left him he renewed friendship with Gervaise and Coupeau, her husband, and induced them to take him into their home as a lodger. Once established there, he paid nothing for his support, and soon Gervaise was supporting him as well as her husband, who by this time was doing nothing. Gervaise, having become disgusted with her husband’s intemperance, resumed her old relations with Lantier, and these continued till she was financially ruined, and her shop was taken over by Virginie Poisson. Lantier, having transferred his affections to Virginie, was allowed to retain his old position as lodger, and soon resumed his former tactics of paying no rent and living off his landlord. In course of time he succeeded in eating the Poissons’ stock of sweetmeats and bringing them to ruin, and then began to look out for some one else to support him. L’Assommoir.

LANTIER (CLAUDE), son of Gervaise Macquart and Auguste Lantier, was born at Plassans in 1842. He was brought up by his paternal grandmother, but when she died, in 1850, he was taken to Paris by his parents. La Fortune des Rougon.

After Lantier’s desertion of Gervaise, and her subsequent marriage to Coupeau, Claude continued to reside with his mother, but a few years later an old gentleman of Plassans, a lover of pictures, who had been greatly struck by some daubs done by the child, offered to pay for his education. The offer was accepted, and Claude returned to Plassans. L’Assommoir.

Some years later his benefactor died, leaving him an income of a thousand francs a year, enough to prevent him dying of hunger in the artistic career which he had decided to follow. Having come to Paris with an intense hatred of romanticism, he was struck by the artistic possibilities of the
Halles Centrales
, the great provision markets of Paris, which he haunted in search of subjects for his brush. He was induced by Florent to attend one of the republican meetings in Lebigre’s cafe, but was not in sympathy with the movement, and declined to take part in it. He occasionally visited his aunt, Madame Lisa Quenu, but revolted against her complete indifference to art, and her middle-class selfishness. Le Ventre de Paris.

He was appointed a member of the family council which nominally had charge of Pauline Quenu’s fortune. La Joie de Vivre.

He established himself in a studio near the roof of an old house close to the river, and there lived the life of a Bohemian, with an absolute disdain for everything not related to art. He revolted against the canons of the schools, and tried to achieve truth in painting by adopting an exaggerated realism. His hopes became centred in a large painting, which he called
Plein Air
, intended for exhibition in the
Salon
. The picture was rejected, and when shown at a minor exhibition was greeted with derision by the public. About this period began his connection with Christine Hallegrain, with whom he lived for several years, and ultimately married. They took up house at Bennecourt in an old cottage, and there some years passed happily enough, a son named Jacques Louis being born in 1860. But Claude gradually became discontented, and the family returned to Paris, where there began a long struggle against poverty, a struggle beginning in high anticipation and ending in despair. After a long search for a subject for a picture which was to be his masterpiece, Claude selected a stretch of the river near Notre Dame, and into this he intended to put all those new theories of art with which he hoped to revolutionize the world. Everything was sacrificed to this picture; the small fortune left him by his early benefactor was gradually realized to provide food, and when it was exhausted there was little but starvation for the artist and his dependants. The work was begun in a frenzy of genius, but was constantly interrupted by doubts and indecision; it became a monomania, and under its influence Claude’s mind gradually became unhinged; the family virus was at last showing itself. Christine was wholly taken up with her husband, and their child died of an illness due greatly to neglect. By this time Claude was incapable of any real feeling save for art, and the death of his child only served to give him a subject for a picture. Having torn himself away from his intended masterpiece for a time, he painted
L’Enfant Mort
, which was exhibited in the
Salon
, and met with an even more contemptuous reception from the public than his
Plein Air
. Christine used all her influence to prevent her husband from returning to his task, but his brain had become obsessed by the great idea, which his hand proved powerless to execute as his mind became increasingly deranged. At length, in a moment of delirium, he hanged himself in front of the picture which had proved the means of his undoing. His genius was incomplete, and he was unable to carry out his own theories, but they were adopted by other and less able successors with better results. He was buried in the cemetery of Cayenne at Saint-Ouen. L’Oeuvre.