Complete Works of Emile Zola (1889 page)

HUE (M.) a retired Government official, who was a sincere lover of art. He was unfortunately not rich enough to be always buying pictures, and could only bewail the blindness of the public which allowed a genius to die of starvation; for he himself, convinced, had selected Claude Lantier’s crudest works, which he hung by the side of his Delacroix, predicting an equal fortune for them. L’Oeuvre.

HUGON (MADAME), mother of Philippe and Georges Hugon. She was the widow of a notary, and lived quietly at Fondettes, an old family property near Orleans, but had retained a house in Paris in Rue de Richelieu. She had been an old friend of the Marquise de Chouard, and was on intimate terms with her daughter, the Comtesse Sabine. A woman of high principles, she believed that one should overlook much in others in order that something might be pardoned in oneself. In this she contrasted strongly with her old friend the Marquis de Chouard, who professed the most rigorous virtue while he secretly lived a shameful life. She was, however, unable to bear with equanimity the eccentricities of Nana, her neighbour in the country, who led Philippe Hugon into dishonour, and his brother Georges to suicide. Nana.

HUGON (GEORGES), the younger son of Madame Hugon. At seventeen years of age he became infatuated with Nana, and a liaison with her followed. His mother, having discovered the state of affairs, interfered, and kept him at Fondettes for some months after Nana had returned to Paris, but he ultimately followed her there. Though he was not affected by the knowledge that Nana had other lovers, he was driven to frenzy when he learned that his brother Philippe had become one of the number. He implored Nana to marry him, and when she refused to take his offer seriously he plunged a pair of her scissors into his breast. The injury was not immediately fatal, but he died a few months afterwards; some said as the result of the wound reopening, while others spoke of a second and successful attempt at suicide. Nana.

HUGON (PHILIPPE), the elder son of Madame Hugon. A tall, handsome youth, he quickly attained the rank of lieutenant in the army, and was stationed first in the garrison at Bourges, and afterwards at Vincennes. His mother imprudently sent him to endeavour to release Georges from the toils of Nana, with the result that he was himself ensnared. He had little money of his own, and, as the demands of Nana were unceasing, he began to take small sums from the regimental funds, of which he was treasurer. The thefts went on for a considerable time, and when discovery was made they amounted to twelve thousand francs. Philippe was arrested, and when he was released from prison some months afterwards, dishonoured for ever, he was only in time to join his mother at the death-bed of her other son, who was also a victim to Nana’s unhappy influence. Nana.

HUGUENIN, held a sinecure worth six thousand francs at the Ministry of the Interior. When he died Eugene Rougon, the Minister, gave the post to Leon Bejuin. Son Excellence Eugene Rougon.

HUPEL DE LA NOUE (M.),
prefet
of the district for which M. Mareuil was member. He arranged the
tableaux vivants
at the great party given by Aristide Saccard. La Curee.

HURET, a member of the Chamber of Deputies who obtained his election through the influence of Eugene Rougon. His very existence depended on the favour of the Minister of State, towards whom he conducted himself as a sort of general servant. “By following this calling for a couple of years he had, thanks to bribes and pickings, prudently realized, been able to increase his estates.” Having ascertained that Rougon would not oppose the foundation of the Universal Bank, Huret became a director; later on, when the shares had risen to their highest point, he sold out in the knowledge that Rougon had decided to abandon his brother and that a catastrophe would be inevitable. L’Argent.

HUTIN, a salesman in the silk department of “The Ladies’ Paradise.” “He had managed after eighteen months’ service to become one of the principal salesmen, thanks to a natural flexibility of character, a continual flow of caressing flattery under which was concealed a furious rage for business.” Having conspired against Robineau, the “second hand” in his department, he succeeded him, only to be conspired against in turn by his own subordinates. When Denise Baudu first came to “The Ladies’ Paradise” Hutin showed her some kindness, for which she was grateful, but ultimately he made statements about her which were entirely without foundation. Au Bonheur des Dames.

HUTIN (MADAME), a woman who lived in the vicinity of the
Halles Centrales
, and was spied on by Mademoiselle Saget, whose penetrating eyes allowed none of her neighbours to escape notice. Le Ventre de Paris.

I

ISABELLE, a character in
La Petite Duchesse
a piece by Fauchery, played at the Theatre des Varietes. The part was taken by Simonne Cabiroche. Nana.

J

JABOUILLE, an herbalist, whose shop was situated in Rue de Cherche-Midi. He was a widower, and married for the second time a woman named Mathilde. His shop was at one time prosperous, but business fell away until what was left was only that of an equivocal character. He died of syncope induced by phthisis. L’Oeuvre.

JABOUILLE (MADAME MATHILDE), wife of the preceding. She was a woman of about thirty, plain-looking, and exceedingly thin. From the time of her marriage to Jabouille, his business began to decrease, and this, it would appear, was due to her reputation, which alarmed the more respectable customers. Her liaisons were numerous, and included Mahoudeau, Chaine, and Jory, but after the death of her husband she married the last named, settling down into respectability and ruling him with a rod of iron. L’Oeuvre.

JACOBY, a Jew from Bordeaux, between whom and Mazaud there was keen rivalry. “Though of great experience and shrewdness, he was sorely handicapped by his passion for speculation, and in spite of considerable profits always seemed on the eve of a catastrophe. His money melted away on settling days.” He acted as broker for Daigremont, and also for Gundermann. The great gamble in the shares of the Universal Bank resolved itself into a duel between Jacoby and Mazaud, the one selling on behalf of Gundermann, and the other buying on behalf of Saccard; and the final catastrophe was hastened by Jacoby warning Daigremont of Gundermann’s determination to crush out the bank. L’Argent.

JALAGUIER (MADAME), a protegee of Madame Correur, who induced Eugene Rougon, the Minister, to increase the old lady’s pension considerably. Son Excellence Eugene Rougon.

JALAGUIER FILS, son of the preceding. Madame Correur took an interest in him, and asked Eugene Rougon to secure a scholarship for him. Son Excellence Eugene Rougon.

JANTROU, an ex-professor of the University of Bordeaux, who in consequence of some misconduct was obliged to leave for Paris, without caste or position. At the age of twenty-eight, he landed at the Bourse, where for ten years he dragged out existence as a
remisier
or broker’s tout. At the time of the foundation of the Universal Bank he suggested to Saccard the purchase of a newspaper to be employed in the interest of the company. The purchase was carried out, and Jantrou was appointed editor. Subsequently other papers were acquired, which he manipulated so as to keep the bank continually before the public. He gave information to Baroness Sandorff which she repeated to Gundermann, who was induced thereby to continue his attack on the bank. L’Argent.

JEANBERNAT, the caretaker of the deserted estate of Paradou in Provence. He lived by himself with his niece Albine in an old house on the border of the demesne. In an attic he had found a large number of books which had been saved from a fire in the old mansion, and these he studied for twenty years, imbibing from them the rationalistic theories of the eighteenth century. He had no respect for religion, and particularly disliked Brother Archangias, who insulted both him and his niece. After the death of Albine he attacked Archangias, and cut off his right ear with a pocket-knife. La Faute de l’Abbe Mouret.

JENARD, a partner in the firm of Cornille and Jenard, which developed in the eighteenth century the mineral concession of Joiselle. Germinal.

JESUS CHRIST, the sobriquet of Hyacinthe Fouan. La Terre.

JEUMONT (M. AND MADAME), were well known in society during the Second Empire. The Emperor admired Madame Jeumont, and her husband was decorated by him. L’Argent.

JOBELIN (AUGUSTE), son of Colonel Jobelin. Contrary to regulations, Eugene Rougon took him into the office of the Minister of the Interior without the necessary bachelor’s degree. Son Excellence Eugene Rougon.

JOBELIN (COLONEL), a friend of Eugene Rougon, through whose aid he hoped to secure a nomination as commander of the Legion of Honour, and an appointment for his son. He was a cousin of M. Bouchard. After Rougon’s return to office he received the appointment as commander. Son Excellence Eugene Rougon.

JOIRE (ABBE), Cure of Montsou. He pretended not to interest himself in anything, so as not to vex either the workers or the masters. During the strike he took his walks at night, to prevent himself from being compromised by the miners. He obtained promotion, and was replaced by Abbe Ranvier. Germinal.

JONCQUIER, a lover of Rose Mignon, who deserted her for a time in favour of Laure. Nana.

JONCQUOY (MADAME DU), an old friend of the Muffats. Years ago she had met Bismarck, who struck her as stupid; she was unable to understand his later success. Nana.

JORDAN (PAUL), a journalist, whose father, a Marseilles banker, had committed suicide in consequence of some disastrous speculations. He married a daughter of M. Maugendre, to whom he had been betrothed in more prosperous days. His wife brought him no dowry, as her parents were against the marriage on the ground of Jordan’s occupation and want of means. Having made the acquaintance of Saccard, he received an appointment on the staff of the newspaper purchased to support the policy of the Universal Bank. He did not speculate, however, and remained in comparative poverty, until the success of a novel which he had written put him in more comfortable circumstances, and even enabled him to give assistance to his wife’s parents after they were ruined by the failure of the bank. L’Argent.

JORDAN (MADAME MARCELLE), wife of the preceding. She was the only child of M. Maugendre, who was ruined by the failure of the Universal Bank. L’Argent.

JORY (EDOUARD), was the son of a magistrate of Plassans, whom he drove crazy by his profligate conduct. In the end he ran off with a music-hall singer under the pretext of going to Paris to follow the literary profession. Notwithstanding the fact that his profligacy went to even greater lengths in the city, he was successful in journalism, and soon earned between seven and eight thousand francs a year as a leader-writer and art critic. His first success was gained in a series of articles in a little newspaper called
Le Tambour
, in which he fell foul of the accepted canons of art, and hailed Claude Lantier and his companions as the founders of a new school. Later he claimed to have made Fagerolles by his articles, in the same manner as he formerly took credit for making Lantier. He gradually dropped his old friends, however, finding that the public only laughed at their productions, and in excuse pleaded that he had not a journal in which he could support their cause; but when, still later, he became director of a great Art review, he preserved the same silence. After innumerable love affairs, he ended by marrying Mathilde Jabouille. L’Oeuvre.

JORY (MADAME), wife of the preceding. See Mathilde Jabouille.

JOSEPH, a butler in the employment of Nana at La Mignotte. Nana.

JOSEPH, an old soldier who secured a situation in “The Ladies’ Paradise” through the influence of Lhomme, whose foster brother he was. He married Mlle. de Fontenailles, a shop-girl in the establishment. Au Bonheur des Dames.

JOSEPH (MADAME), the concierge of the house on Quay Bourbon where Claude Lantier lived. L’Oeuvre.

JOSSE (MADEMOISELLE) kept a little school for young children in Rue Polonceau. Anna Coupeau was her pupil, and made herself such a nuisance that twice Mademoiselle Josse sent her away, taking her back each time in order not to lose the small fees. L’Assommoir.

Nana in later years exchanged reminiscences with Satin, who, like herself, had been a pupil at Mademoiselle Josse’s school. Nana.

JOSSERAND PERE, the father of Josserand, the cashier at the Saint-Joseph glass-works. He was originally a solicitor at Clermont. Pot-Bouille.

JOSSERAND, cashier at the St. Joseph glass-works. His salary was not a large one, and in consequence of the determination of his wife to keep up a greater style than they could afford, he was engaged in a continual struggle to make ends meet; to gain a few extra francs he frequently spent much of the night addressing circulars for a firm of publishers. Worn out by hard work and by the continual bickerings of his wife and daughters, he was not in a condition to stand the disgrace of his daughter Berthe’s liaison with Octave Mouret, and he was struck down by paralysis, which soon after resulted in his death. Pot-Bouille.

JOSSERAND (MADAME ELEANORE), wife of the preceding. Her two objects in life were to appear better off than she really was, and to secure husbands for her daughters. In the latter quest she had many disappointments, and her temper, never good, correspondingly suffered, her unfortunate husband bearing the brunt. A marriage having ultimately been arranged between Berthe Josserand and Auguste Vabre, Madame Josserand made a strong effort to induce her brother, Narcisse Bachelard, to pay the dowry which he had long ago promised to his niece. As he refused to do so, Madame Josserand overcame the difficulty by a subterfuge of doubtful honesty. Pot-Bouille.

JOSSERAND (BERTHE), second daughter of M. Josserand. After several ineffectual efforts to secure a husband she became engaged to Auguste Vabre, the elder son of her father’s landlord. Difficulties as to a dowry followed, but these were surmounted by somewhat shady means, and the marriage took place. Vabre’s health was not good, and Berthe soon became discontented, a state of mind largely induced by the bad advice of her mother. About this time Octave Mouret came to be assistant in Vabre’s shop, and Berthe, carried away by his attentions, entered upon an unfortunate liaison with him. Discovery by Vabre led to Berthe’s return to her parents’ home, and it was only after a considerable time that a reconciliation was brought about by the efforts of Abbe Mauduit. Pot-Bouille.