PIEDEFER (ZOE), an artist’s model who lived in Rue Campagne-Premiere.  She was a tall brunette.  L’Oeuvre.

PIERRE, Dr. Deberle’s butler.  Une Page d’Amour.

PIERRE, an employee at Au Bonheur des Dames.  He was waiter in the dining-room of the shop assistants.  Au Bonheur des Dames.

PIERRON, a miner employed at the Voreux pit.  He was a widower with a little girl aged eight, Lydie, when he married for the second time, the daughter of La Brule.  Though he took part in the strike he betrayed his companions, giving information to the company through Dansaert, his wife’s lover.  After the attack on the pit Pierron was arrested by mistake, and was taken off with handcuffs at his wrists as far as Marchiennes, to the great amusement of his mates.  He was subsequently promoted to be captain of a gang, but his excessive zeal made him disliked by his men.  Germinal.

PIERRON (LYDIE), daughter of the preceding, was a fragile child, who when ten years old was already working in the pit.  Her constant companions were Jeanlin Maheu and Bebert Levaque, with whom she made many raids in search of food during the strike.  She was killed by the volley fired by the troops at the strikers attacking the Voreux pit.  Germinal.

PIERRONNE (LA), the second wife of Pierron, was a daughter of La Brule.  She was allowed by the Company to sell sweetmeats and biscuits, which were a considerable source of revenue.  Dansaert, the head captain of the Voreux pit, was her lover, and through him she obtained various favours, giving him in exchange information as to the intentions of the strikers.  After the strike she was enabled to acquire the little Estaminet du Progres.  Germinal.

PIFARD, an usher at the college of Plassans, whose wonderful nose kept betraying his presence behind doors when its owner went eavesdropping.  L’Oeuvre.

PILLERAULT, a speculator on the Bourse, whose guiding principle was recklessness; he declared that he plunged into catastrophes whenever he paused to reflect.  He was ruined by the failure of the Universal Bank.  L’Argent.

PIOT AND RIVOIRE, a firm of furniture-dealers, whose business was seriously affected when Octave Mouret added a furniture department to “The Ladies’ Paradise.”  Au Bonheur des Dames.

PIQUETTE kept an estaminet at Montsou, where Chaval lodged.  Germinal.

PLOUGUERN (M.  DE) was a member of the Chamber of Deputies during the reign of Louis Philippe.  After the Revolution of February, 1848, he manifested a sudden affection for the Republic, and later, when the Emperor granted him the refuge of the Senate, he was a Bonapartist.  He was a man of high birth and breeding, and though a sceptic, defended religion and family life.  During a journey in Italy he met Comtesse Balbi, whose lover he remained for thirty years.  According to some, Clorinde Balbi was his daughter.  Son Excellence Eugene Rougon.