DEQUERSONNIERE, an architect with whom Louis Dubuche served his apprenticeship.  He was a former winner of the Grand Prize, and was architect of the Civil Branch of Public Works, an officer of the Legion of Honour, and a member of the Institute.  His principal production was the church of Saint-Mathieu, a building which shared the characteristics of a pastry-cook’s mould and a clock in the style of the First Empire.  L’Oeuvre.

DESBAZEILLES, President of the Assize Court at Rouen on the occasion of the trial of Roubaud.  He was a bachelor, and an old friend of Madame Bonnehon; a friendship which still continued, notwithstanding his sixty years.  He was the literary glory of the Court, and his cleverly turned sonnets were well known.  La Bete Humaine.

DESFORGES, a stock-broker.  The friendship of his wife with Hartmann, the great financier, had been very useful to him.  He died leaving a fortune, the amount of which was minimized by some and exaggerated by others.  Au Bonheur des Dames.

DESFORGES (MADAME HENRIETTE), daughter of a Councillor of State and widow of a stock-broker, who left her a small fortune.  “Even during her husband’s lifetime, people said she had shown herself grateful towards Baron Hartmann, whose financial tips had proved very useful to them; and later on, after her husband’s death, the acquaintance had probably continued, but always discreetly.”  Octave Mouret, having met her at the house of a mutual friend, made love to her, chiefly with a view to gaining Baron Hartmann’s assistance through her influence.  Madame Desforges was extremely jealous when she learned of Mouret’s affection for Denise Baudu and the probability of his marrying her.  In order to injure him, she introduced Bouthemont to Baron Hartmann, who lent him money to start an opposition establishment called “The Four Seasons.”  Au Bonheur des Dames.

DESIR (VEUVE), an elderly woman who kept a ball-room known as Bon-Joyeux.  She called all the miners her children, and grew tender at the thought of the flood of beer which she had poured out for them during the last thirty years.  She gave her ball-room to the miners to hold a meeting during the strike, and when the police arrived to break it up she held the door long enough to allow those present to escape.  Germinal.

DESLIGNIERES, a toy-seller in Rue Saint-Roch.  Au Bonheur des Dames.

DESMARQUAY, a money-changer in Rue Saint-Lazare.  Trublot was employed in his office.  Pot-Bouille.

DESROCHES, a notary at Chene-Populeux.  His house there was requisitioned for the Emperor on 27th August, 1870, during the march of the army of MacMahon.  La Debacle.

DESROCHES (MADAME), mother of the preceding.  Their house adjoined the early home of Maurice Levasseur, and she had been good to him when he was a child.  When the house was requisitioned for the Emperor, she had to give up her room to him and take refuge in the garret.  La Debacle.