Rouget. After this woman’s death, in 1828,
he was led, disguised as a priest, to the residence
of the Soulanges, where he told the comte about the
scandal connected with her death, knowingly caused
by her husband; he told, also, about the bad habits
and vulgarities of Philippe Bridau, and thus caused
the breaking off of the marriage of this weather-beaten
soldier with Mlle. Amelie de Soulanges. A
talented cartoonist, distinguished practical joker,
and recognized as one of the kings of bon mot,
he led a free and easy life. He was on speaking
terms with all the artists and all the lorettes of
his day. Among others he knew the painter, Hippolyte
Schinner. He turned a pretty penny, during the
trial of De Fualdes and de Castaing, by illustrating
in a fantastic way the account of this trial. [A Bachelor’s
Establishment. The Government Clerks. The
Purse.] He designed some vignettes for the writing
of Canalis. [Modeste Mignon.] With Blondet, Lousteau
and Nathan he was a habitue of the house of Esther
Gobseck, rue Saint-Georges, in 1829, 1830. [Scenes
from a Courtesan’s Life.] In a private room
of a well-known restaurant, in 1836, he wittily related
to Finot, Blondet and Couture the source of Nucingen’s
fortune. [The Firm of Nucingen.] In January, 1837,
his friend Lousteau had him come especially to upbraid
him, Lousteau, on account of the latter’s irregular
ways with Mme. de la Baudraye, while she, concealed
in an ante-room, heard it all. This scene had
been arranged beforehand; its object was to give Lousteau
a chance to declare, apparently, his unquenchable
attachment for his mistress. [The Muse of the Department.]
In 1838 he attended the house-warming of Heloise Brisetout
in rue Chauchat. In the same year he was attendant
at the marriage of Steinbock with Hortense Hulot,
and of Crevel with the widow Marneffe. [Cousin Betty.]
In 1839 the sculptor Dorlange-Sallenauve knew of Bixiou
and complained of his slanders. [The Member for Arcis.]
Mme. Schontz treated him most cordially in 1838,
and he had to pass for her “special,” although
their relations, in fact, did not transcend the bounds
of friendship. [Beatrix.] In 1840, at the home of
Marguerite Turquet, maintained by the notary Cardot,
when Lousteau, Nathan and La Palferine were also present,
he heard a story by Desroches. [A Man of Business.]
About 1844, Bixiou helped in a high comedy relative
to a Selim shawl sold by Fritot to Mistress Noswell.
Bixiou himself had purchased, in a shop with M. du
Ronceret, a shawl for Mme. Schontz. [Gaudissart
II.] In 1845 Bixiou showed Paris and the “Unconscious
Humorists” to a Pyrrenean named Gazonal, in company
with Leon de Lora, a cousin of the countryman.
At this time Bixiou dwelt at number 112 rue Richelieu,
sixth floor; when he had a regular position he had
lived in rue de Ponthieu. [The Unconscious Humorists.]
In the rue Richelieu period he was the lover of Heloise
Brisetout. [Cousin Pons.]