he proceedings which led to the conviction
of its officials. L'Argent.

DELESTANG (M.), son of a wine merchant at Bercy, was himself a retired
attorney and owner of a model farm. He was a man of great wealth, but of
foolish and shallow character. Having got into political trouble at
the time of the _Coup d'Etat_ of 1851, he was helped out of an awkward
position by Eugene Rougon. Acting on the suggestion of Rougon, he
married Clorinde Balbi, and soon after was appointed Minister of
Commerce and Agriculture. After Rougon's second retirement from office
Delestang was appointed to succeed him as Minister of the Interior. Son
Excellence Eugene Rougon.

DELESTANG (MADAME), wife of the preceding. See Clorinde Balbi.

DELESTANG (HENRIETTE), sister of Delestang, the Minister, and wife of
M. de Combelot, Chamberlain to Napoleon III. She had a passion for the
Emperor, who, however, would not look at her. Son Excellence Eugene
Rougon.

DELEUZE founded, along with his brother, in 1822, the drapers' shop
in Paris known as _Au Bonheur des Dames_. When he died, his daughter
Caroline, who was married to Hedouin, succeeded to his share in the
business. Pot-Bouille.

The beginning of the business was exceedingly modest; there was only
one window in the shop, and the stock was a small one. At that time the
principal shop in the neighbourhood was the _Vieil Elbeuf_, of which
Baudu afterwards became proprietor. Au Bonheur des Dames.

DELEUZE (UNCLE), one of the founders of the shop known as _Au Bonheur
des Dames_. After the death of his elder brother he continued the
business along with his niece Madame Hedouin. He became much affected
by rheumatism, and left the management in the hands of Hedouin.
Pot-Bouille.

DELEUZE (CAROLINE). See Caroline Hedouin.

DELHOMME was the son-in-law of Pere Fouan, whose daughter Fanny he
married. He was the owner of a small farm, which he managed so well that
he became one of the richest of the peasant proprietors at Rognes.
He was a man of calm, upright nature, and was frequently selected as
arbiter in petty disputes. In his own affairs, however, he allowed
himself to be much influenced by his wife. He was a municipal
councillor, and ultimately became mayor. La Terre.

DELHOMME (MADAME), nee Fanny Fouan, wife of the preceding. At first a
not unamiable woman, she became hardened, and eventually the cleanliness
of her house became a mania with her. She was unkind to her father, with
whose little we