m in his
untiring search. La Bete Humaine.

DUMONTEIL, a rich silk manufacturer at Lyons. He supplied to Octave
Mouret a special make of silk with which he achieved great success. Au
Bonheur des Dames.

DU POIZAT PERE, an old bailiff at Coulonges. He was an old miser who
refused any money to his son Leopold, and even threatened him with
a pistol when he tried to borrow from him. He lived alone in an old
ruinous house with a loaded gun behind the door. His son, having become
a prefect, and wishing to dazzle the old man with his fine position,
attempted to force the door; then followed a drama mysterious and
without witness, at the end of which the old man was found lying at the
foot of his staircase, with his head split open. Son Excellence Eugene
Rougon.

DU POIZAT (LEOPOLD), son of a process-server at Coulonges, a little town
in the district of Niort. His father, who had amassed a considerable
fortune by usury, sent him to study law in Paris, giving him an
allowance of only a hundred francs a month. Some months before the
revolution of February, 1848, he became acquainted with Eugene Rougon,
who, like himself, was boarding at that time with Madame Correur at the
Hotel Vanneau. During the Bonapartist intrigues he assisted Rougon in
some risky undertakings, and later on worked energetically to secure his
election to the Legislative Assembly as member for Deux-Sevres. After
the _Coup d'Etat_ Rougon used his influence on behalf of Du Poizat, and
got him appointed sub-prefect at Bressuire. He resigned this appointment
on the advice of Rougon after the resignation of the latter as President
of the State Council. After Rougon's return to office he was appointed
prefect at Niort. His extreme harshness and overbearing conduct produced
a public scandal, and the sudden death of his father, under peculiar
circumstances, still further increased his unpopularity. He was at
his own request transferred to another prefecture by Delestang, who
succeeded Rougon as Minister of the Interior. Son Excellence Eugene
Rougon.

DURIEU, a wealthy brewer who, carried away by the charm of Caroline
Hamelin, married her. He became an alcoholic maniac, and on one occasion
pursued his wife with a knife. A separation was arranged, and Durieu
ultimately died in an asylum. L'Argent.

DURIEU (MADAME). See Caroline Hamelin.

DURIEU (LE PERE), a messenger at Plassans. He was a taciturn old
Provencal. Le Docteur Pascal.

DUTILLEUL. A flour-miller at