ROCHART (MONSEIGNEUR), Bishop of Faverolles.  He upheld the Sisters of the Holy Family in the matter of the succession to Chevassu’s estate, but was beaten by Eugene Rougon, the Minister of State, who supported the claim of the Charbonnels.  Son Excellence Eugene Rougon.

ROCHAS, lieutenant in the 106th Regiment of the line, commanded by Colonel de Vineuil.  The son of a journeyman mason from Limousin, he was born in Paris, and not caring for his father’s calling, enlisted when he was only eighteen.  He gained a corporal’s stripes in Algeria, rose to the rank of sergeant at Sebastopol, and was promoted to a lieutenancy after Solferino.  Fifteen years of hardship and heroic bravery was the price he had paid to be an officer, but his education was so defective that he could never be made a captain.  He held the old traditions that a defeat of the French army was impossible, and all through the campaign against Germany in 1870 he refused to believe in the repeated catastrophes.  In the fierce attack by the Prussians on the Hermitage, he fought desperately against an overwhelming force, and up to the end encouraged his men by shouting that the victory was theirs.  In the end he fell, mowed down by a hail of bullets.  La Debacle.

ROCHEFONTAINE, proprietor of a large factory at Chateaudun.  He was desirous of serving as a Deputy, but did not secure the support of the Government, and, standing as an independent candidate, was defeated.  Later, in consequence of the disgrace of M. de Chedeville, he became the official candidate, and in spite of a brusqueness of manner which made him unpopular, he was elected.  La Terre.

RODRIGUEZ, a distant relative of the Empress, who made a claim upon the State for a large sum, which he said had been due since 1808.  Eugene Rougon, the Minister of State, gave great offence to the Empress by opposing the claim.  Son Excellence Eugene Rougon.

ROGNES-BOUQUEVAL (LES), an ancient and noble family whose estate, already much reduced by enforced sales, was declared national property in 1793, and was purchased piece by piece by Isidore Hourdequin.  La Terre.

ROIVILLE (LES), members of Parisian society at whose house Baroness Sandorff occasionally met Gundermann.  L’Argent.

ROSALIE, an old chair-mender at Rognes.  The poor woman lived all alone, sick and without a copper.  Abbe Godard came to her assistance.  La Terre.

ROSE, a waitress in Lebigre’s wine-shop.  Le Ventre de Paris.

ROSE, servant in the household of Francois Mouret, was an old woman of crabbed nature and uncertain temper.  She fell under the influence of Abbe Faujas, and encouraged her mistress in the religious observances which led to the neglect of her family.  Later, when Madame Mouret’s health became impaired, and she became subject to fits, it was chiefly Rose who threw suspicion on her master, encouraging the belief that he was insane and had inflicted injuries on his wife.  La Conquete de Plassans.