A Zola Dictionary Part 27

He died in the arms of Henriette Weiss, whom in his delirium he named "Mother." La Debacle.

PAYAN, a stone-cutter from the South, whose friends had views of making him an artist. He was a lover of Clarisse Bocquet, and pilfered from her a large quant.i.ty of furniture given her by Duveyrier. Pot-Bouille.

PECHARD (ANTOINE), a neighbour of the Fouans. He owned eighteen acres of land when he married La Grande, who brought him seven acres more. He died young, leaving one daughter. La Terre.

PECHARD (MADAME), wife of the preceding. See La Grand. La Terre.

PECHARD (MADEMOISELLE), daughter of Antoine Pechard and Marianne Fouan, his wife. As she insisted on marrying a poor youth named Vincent Bouteroue, her mother cast her out. Misfortunes pursued the young couple, both of whom died within a few years, leaving two children in profound misery. La Terre.

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 pa.s.sed 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 pa.s.s 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 friends.h.i.+p 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 Pla.s.sans. 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 Pla.s.sans. 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 Pla.s.sans.

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

L'a.s.sommoir.

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 _a.s.sommoir_, a public-house which was largely the scene of the downfall of Coupeau and Gervaise Macquart, his wife.

L'a.s.sommoir.

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 G.o.dmother 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 rus.h.i.+ng 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 h.o.a.rd. 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 Pla.s.sans 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'a.s.sommoir.

PIEDEFER (LAURE), kept a cheap restaurant in Rue des Martyrs, which was much frequented by a certain cla.s.s 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 a.s.sistants. 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 amus.e.m.e.nt 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 Pla.s.sans, 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 a.s.sociation 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 a.s.sociation. 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'a.s.sommoir.

POISSON (MADAME), wife of the preceding. See Virginie. L'a.s.sommoir.

POLAND, a pet rabbit which belonged to Ra.s.seneur, 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 fas.h.i.+onable medical man of Pla.s.sans. He had considerable influence, and this was secured by Abbe Faujas on behalf of the Government's candidate for the representation of Pla.s.sans by the promise of an appointment for his son, Guillaume, a young man who had hitherto given him much trouble. La Conquete de Pla.s.sans.

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 Pla.s.sans, 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 Pla.s.sans, Porquier was appointed chief clerk at the post office. La Conquete de Pla.s.sans.

POUILLAUD, a fellow-pupil of Claude Lantier and Pierre Sandoz at the college of Pla.s.sans. 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 a.s.sistant in the corset department at _Au Bonheur des Dames_. She was able to play the piano, a talent of which the other a.s.sistants 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.