urer in the farm of La Borderie. He was one of Jacqueline
Cognet's lovers, and exhibited jealousy amounting to insanity regarding
her. Having been dismissed by his master, he opened a trap-door through
which Hourdequin fell and was killed. When he found that Jacqueline
would not forgive him for this stupid murder, which ruined her
prospects, he set fire to the farm buildings. La Terre.

TROUCHE (HONORE), brother-in-law of Abbe Faujas. Having been
unsuccessful in business at Besancon, he followed Faujas to Plassans,
where he went with his wife to live in rooms rented by the Abbe from
Francois Mouret. He was of bad character and quite unscrupulous, but by
the influence of Faujas he was appointed Secretary to the Girls' Home
started by Madame Mouret and other ladies of Plassans. Having got a
footing in the Mourets' house, he soon began to take advantage of his
position, and little by little got possession of the whole premises. He
did all he could to encourage the idea of Francois Mouret's madness, and
after the unfortunate man's removal to the asylum was able with greater
ease to carry out his schemes. Mouret having ultimately escaped from the
asylum, returned to his home and set it on fire; Trouche perished in the
flames. La Conquete de Plassans.

TROUCHE (MADAME OLYMPE), wife of the preceding, and sister of Abbe
Faujas. She accompanied her husband to Plassans, and contributed largely
to the ruin of the Mouret family. Utterly heartless, she stopped at
nothing, robbing Madame Mouret of money, clothing, everything that came
within her power. Nemesis came with the return of Francois Mouret, who
set fire to his house, causing the death of Madame Trouche as well as
that of her husband. La Conquete de Plassans.

TROUILLE (LA), the nickname of Olympe Fouan. La Terre.

TRUBLOT (HECTOR), a young man whom Madame Josserand hoped at one time
to secure as a husband for her daughter. He had, however, no thoughts of
marriage, and as he was averse to any risk of complications, his habit
was to select his female friends from among the maid-servants of
his acquaintances. He was employed as correspondent in the office of
Monsieur Desmarquay, a money-changer. Pot-Bouille.

V

VABRE, a notary of Versailles who retired to Paris with a fortune, part
of which he invested in the house in Rue de Choiseul occupied by the
Duveyriers, the Josserands, and others. He had unfortunately a hidden
passion for gambling in stocks and shares, and