MASSIAS, a frequenter of the Paris Bourse, where he gained a living by bringing business to stockbrokers, from whom he received a commission on each transaction.  He was employed by Saccard after the foundation of the Universal Bank, and by speculating in the shares he made a considerable fortune.  With the downfall of the institution, he lost everything, and found himself in debt for a large sum.  By borrowing from friends, and pledging his entire life, he paid his debts and started afresh.  L’Argent.

MASSICOT, a tradesman of Plassans who was enrolled and armed by Pierre Rougon to deliver the Town Hall from the Republicans who had occupied it.  He was so excited that when he got into the building he fired in the air without knowing he had done so.  La Fortune des Rougon.

MASSON (COLONEL), commander of the troops which crushed the Republican rising in 1851.  La Fortune des Rougon.

MATHIAS, an old hunchback who worked on the farm of La Borderie.  La Terre.

MATHIEU, a large dog which belonged to the Chanteaus at Bonneville and was a great favourite of the family.  The death of this animal greatly accelerated the unreasoning fear of inevitable mortality with which the mind of Lazare Chanteau was becoming obsessed.  La Joie de Vivre.

MATHILDE, an actress at the Theatre des Varietes.  Nana.

MATIGNON, a draper in Paris, whose shop was near that of Baudu.  Au
Bonheur des Dames.

MAUDIT (ABBE), Vicar of Saint-Roch, Paris, he counted among his parishioners the Josserands and the Duveyriers.  Though well aware of the immorality that went on in his parish, he recognized the impossibility of stopping it, and did what he could to hide it under the cloak of religion.  When the scandal arose about Madame Auguste Vabre, he was approached by her relations, and at their request acted as intermediary between the husband and wife.  Pot-Bouille.

MAUGENDRE (M.), father of Madame Jordan; was a retired awning manufacturer who had made a considerable fortune from his business.  He disapproved of his daughter’s marriage, and refused to give her any dowry, on the pretext that she would have his fortune intact when he was dead and gone.  He was a careful man, averse from speculation, but having on one occasion made a small venture, he gradually became imbued with the craze.  The phenomenal success of the Universal Bank induced him to purchase its shares more and more wildly, until, when the crash came, he was so deeply committed as to be ruined.  Jordan, who by this time had met with some success in literature, came to his assistance.  L’Argent.

MAUGENDRE (MADAME), wife of the preceding, was at first bitterly opposed to the small speculations entered into by her husband.  She soon got infected with the craze, and became even more reckless than he, urging him to involve himself more and more deeply in the fortunes of the Universal Bank.  L’Argent.

MAUGENDRE (MARCELLE).  See Madame Marcelle Jordan.