COGNET (JACQUELINE), alias LA COGNETTE, daughter of the preceding.  She went to La Borderie at the age of twelve years, and before long had several lovers.  She made her fortune, however, by resisting her master, Alexandre Hourdequin, for six months, and when she ultimately became his mistress she had made her position so secure that he was afterwards unable to part with her.  Notwithstanding her relations with Hourdequin, she had other lovers, and the old shepherd Soulas, from motives of revenge, informed Hourdequin of her intimacy with one of them, a man named Tron.  The latter, having been dismissed, killed Hourdequin and burned down the farm, so that Jacqueline was compelled to leave La Borderie no richer than she had come.  La Terre.

COLICHE (LA), a fine cow which belonged to the Mouche family and was a great favourite with them.  La Terre.

COLIN, a notary at Havre.  It was in his presence that the Roubauds made a mutual will, leaving everything to the last survivor.  La Bete Humaine.

COLOMBAN PERE, a veterinary surgeon known to all in the district of Seine-et-Oise.  He was of dissolute habits.  Au Bonheur des Dames.

COLOMBAN, a shopman who had been for many years in the employment of M. Baudu.  He was engaged to his master’s daughter Genevieve, but the marriage was put off from time to time as Baudu’s business was not prosperous.  Meantime, Colomban had become infatuated by Clara Prunaire, a girl employed in “The Ladies’ Paradise,” and his affection for Genevieve rapidly cooled.  Ultimately he went off with Clara, thereby hastening the death of Genevieve, who had been in bad health for some time.  Au Bonheur des Dames.

COLOMBE.  See Pere Colombe.

COMBELOT (M.  DE), an Imperial Chamberlain whom the Department of the Landes had chosen as deputy upon the formally expressed desire of the Emperor.  He was a tall, handsome man, with a very white skin, and an inky black beard, which had been the means of winning him great favour among the ladies.  He was married to a sister of Delestang.  Son Excellence Eugene Rougon.

COMBELOT (MADAME DE), see Henriette Delestang.

COMBETTE, a chemist at Chene-Populeux.  He was assessor to the mayor, and the information which he received on the night of 27th August, 1870, satisfied him of the unhappy state of the Army of Chalons, which was then on its way to the front.  La Debacle.

COMBETTE (MADAME), wife of the preceding.  It was she who on the evening of 27th August, 1870, offered hospitality to the soldier Maurice Levasseur, who was worn out with fatigue and with the pain of his foot, which had been injured by the long march.  La Debacle.

COMBEVILLE (DUCHESSE DE), mother of Princess d’Orviedo.  L’Argent.

COMBOREL ET CIE, a firm of ship-owners who entered into the great transport syndicate founded by Aristide Saccard.  L’Argent.

COMPAN (ABBE), vicar of the church of Saint-Saturnin at Plassans.  He was on bad terms with Abbe Fenil, and consequently the other priests were afraid to have any intercourse with him, Abbe Bourrette alone visiting him during his last illness.  La Conquete de Plassans.