LA ROUQUETTE (MADEMOISELLE DE).  See Madame de Llorentz.

LARSONNEAU, formerly a clerk at the Hotel de Ville along with Aristide Saccard; he was dismissed for prying into the prefet’s private drawers.  He acted for Saccard in many of the shady transactions in which he could not himself appear, and being entirely unscrupulous ultimately amassed such a sum of money that he was able to start a small banking establishment.  La Curee.

He became immensely rich.  It was through him that Busch came to know the past life of Aristide Saccard.  L’Argent.

LAURE, an actress for whom Joncquier had an infatuation.  Nana.

LAURE, a performer in a singing-hall at Montmartre.  Hutin, one of Octave Mouret’s salesmen, and his friend Lienard applauded her performance so noisily that the police threatened to intervene.  Au Bonheur des Dames.

LAURENT, a peasant in easy circumstances who lived near Artaud.  Pere Bambousse was anxious to have him as son-in-law.  La Faute de l’Abbe Mouret.

LAURENT, the recorder at the court of Rouen who assisted Denizet at the inquiry into the murder of Grandmorin.  He was skilful in selecting the essential parts of evidence, so as not to put down anything useless.  La Bete Humaine.

LAURENT, a gardener at Bazeilles.  He was a man of thirty years of age who had recently lost his mother and his wife, who had both died of the same fever.  During the battle of 1st September, 1870, he took part in the defence of Weiss’s house, and having only his own body to care for, he determined to sell it dearly, and at each shot to bring down one of the enemy.  He continued firing till his ammunition was exhausted, when he was taken prisoner by the Prussians, who finding that he was a civilian removed him, along with Weiss, for instant execution.  In the face of the firing party he retained all his calmness, standing with his hands in his pockets till the fatal shots were fired.  La Debacle.

LAUWERENS (DE), a well-known financier who was both wealthy and avaricious.  He went the length of refusing to pay his wife’s milliner’s bill.  La Curee.

LAUWERENS (MADAME DE), wife of the preceding.  Notwithstanding certain well-authenticated scandals, she managed to keep her high position in society.  She was a friend of Renee Saccard.  La Curee.

LAVIGNIERE, was one of the auditors at the Universal Bank, Rousseau being the other.  Their duties were delicate, and in the circumstances useless.  Lavigniere was disposed to approve of everything, being consumed with a desire to become a member of the board later on.  L’Argent.

LA VIGNIERE (CHEVALIER DE), grandfather of Madame Chanteau.  La Joie de Vivre.

LA VIGNIERE (EUGENIE DE).  See Madame Chanteau.

LA VILLARDIERE (DE), deputy for the department of the Cote d’Or.  He was a friend of La Rouquette.  Son Excellence Eugene Rougon.

LEA, a customer at the Cafe Anglais.  Nana.