BOUTHEMONT, manager of the silk department at “The Ladies’ Paradise.”  Noisy and too fond of company, he was not much good for sales, but for buying he had not his equal.  Nearly every month he went to Lyons, living at the best hotels, with authority to treat the manufacturers with open purse.  He had, moreover, liberty to buy what he liked, provided he increased the sales of his department in a certain proportion settled beforehand; and it was on this proportion that his commission was based.  Eventually, however, his position was undermined, and Madame Desforges, having become jealous of Mouret, and wishing to injure him, introduced Bouthemont to Baron Hartmann, who lent him money to start an opposition establishment called “The Four Seasons.”  This was burned down three weeks after its opening, but the enormous loss was covered by insurance.  Au Bonheur des Dames.

BOUTIGNY, Lazare Chanteau’s partner in the chemical business, into which he put thirty thousand francs.  After the failure of the venture, he took over the whole concern, and began to manufacture potash from seaweed by the old methods.  He was very successful in this, and by degrees began to employ on a small scale the scientific systems which had before proved disastrous.  In a few years he amassed a considerable fortune.  La Joie de Vivre.

BOUTIN, a retired artist’s-model who kept a studio in Rue de la Huchette, which was frequented by Claude Lantier, who went there for purposes of study.  A subscription of twenty francs enabled young artists to have the free use of models.  L’Oeuvre.

BOUTIN, an old epileptic attended by Doctor Pascal at Plassans.  He died in one of his fits.  Le Docteur Pascal.

BOVES (COMTE DE), Inspector-General of the Imperial Stud, a tall, handsome man who had married his wife for her great beauty.  Notwithstanding this, he carried on a liaison with Madame Guibal, whose demands upon his purse were so heavy that he was obliged to economize in his own establishment.  Au Bonheur des Dames.

BOVES (COMTESSE DE), wife of the preceding, was a beautiful woman of about forty years of age.  She was a constant customer at “The Ladies’ Paradise,” but as her husband kept her very short of money, was seldom able to buy anything.  Eventually temptation proved too strong for her, and she was caught in the act of stealing some valuable lace.  The matter was, however, kept quiet, and a scandal avoided.  Au Bonheur des Dames.

BOVES (BLANCHE DE), daughter of the preceding.  She usually accompanied her mother on her shopping expeditions to “The Ladies’ Paradise,” and, it is to be feared, was not unaware of the theft of lace by her.  She married Paul de Vallagnosc.  Au Bonheur des Dames.

BRAMAH, an English horse which won the Grand Prix de Paris.  It belonged to Lord Reading.  Nana.

BRAMBILLA (SIGNOR), a Venetian political refugee, and a friend of Comtesse Balbi.  Son Excellence Eugene Rougon.