RHADAMANTE, the sobriquet of a professor at the college of Plassans.  He was supposed never to have laughed.  L’Oeuvre.

RICHOMME, one of the captains of the Voreux pit.  He tried in vain to prevent a collision between the strikers and the troops, and even when bricks were being thrown he went between two parties, imploring one and advising the other, careless of danger.  He was one of the first to fall when the troops ultimately fired.  Germinal.

RIVOIRE, a member of the firm of Piot and Rivoire.  Au Bonheur des Dames.

ROBERT (MADAME), a regular customer at the restaurant Laure Piedefer.  She was jealous of Nana’s relations with Satin, and revenged herself by writing anonymous letters to Muffat and to other lovers of her enemy.  Nana.

ROBIN-CHAGOT (VISCOUNT DE), vice-chairman of the board of directors of the Universal Bank.  He was selected for the position in the belief that he would sign anything put before him without making too many inquiries.  L’Argent.

ROBINEAU, “second hand” in the silk department at “The Ladies’ Paradise.”  As the result of a conspiracy among his subordinates, he was dismissed, and soon afterwards bought the business of M. Vincard, a silk merchant, with money belonging to his wife.  His capital was inadequate, but M. Gaujean, a silk manufacturer who had quarrelled with Octave Mouret, promised to give him unlimited credit.  Robineau’s intention was to break up the monopoly of the cheaper class of silks which Mouret had secured, but he soon found that each reduction in price which he made was met by a still larger one.  As he had no other departments out of which to average his profits, ruin inevitably followed, and he attempted to commit suicide by throwing himself under an omnibus; his injuries were not serious, however, and he ultimately recovered.  Au Bonheur des Dames.

ROBINEAU (MADAME), wife of the preceding.  “Daughter of an overseer in the Department of Highways, entirely ignorant of business matters, she still retained the charming awkwardness of a girl educated in a Blois convent.”  Her small fortune enabled her husband to buy the silk business of M. Vincard, and she assisted him in carrying it on.  Their subsequent ruin affected her less than the attempted suicide of her husband, to whom she was devoted.  Au Bonheur des Dames.

ROBINE, a regular attender at the revolutionary meetings in Lebigre’s wine-shop.  He sat for hours listening to arguments but never made any remarks.  He escaped arrest.  Le Ventre de Paris.

ROBINE (MADAME), wife of the preceding, lived with her husband in Rue Saint-Denis.  No one ever entered their house, and even her personal appearance was unknown to her husband’s friends.  Le Ventre de Paris.

ROBINOT (MADAME), an acquaintance of the Deberles.  Une Page d’Amour.

ROBIQUET, farmer of La Chamade.  Being near the end of his lease, he ceased to manure the land, allowing it to go to ruin.  He was eventually turned out as he did not pay his rent.  La Terre.