DUBUCHE (LOUIS), eldest son of a baker of Plassans, and companion from childhood of Claude Lantier and Pierre Sandoz.  His mother, who was very ambitious, sent him to Paris, where he studied architecture at the School of Art.  His reverence for established formulas caused him to be out of sympathy with the advanced school of painting advocated by Claude Lantier and his friends, though he expressed large ideals regarding his own profession.  In time he became a first-class pupil at the school, and with infinite trouble gained the regulation “honourable mention.”  But his parents no longer sent him any money; it became necessary for him to gain his living, and he was already tired of earning a few francs by assisting an architect incapable of drawing his own plans.  By the aid of his master, Dequersonniere, he gained a medal for a plan of a villa, and this brought him prominently under the notice of Margaillan, a wealthy building contractor, whose daughter Regine he married soon afterwards.  The marriage was not a success; his wife was always ailing, and the two children which were born to them were so delicate as to cause constant anxiety.  His business relations with his father-in-law were a failure, some of his ventures resulting in heavy loss, and Margaillan soon thrust him aside.  His only satisfaction was that he had been able to repay to his parents the money they advanced for his education in Paris.  L’Oeuvre.

DUBUCHE (MADAME LOUIS), wife of the preceding.  See Regine Margaillan.  L’Oeuvre.

DUCAT, a franc-tireur of the woods at Dieulet.  He was formerly a bailiff at Blainville, but had to leave on account of a criminal charge against him.  He was a friend of Cabasse and of Guillaume Sambuc, and took part in the murder of Goliath Steinberg.  La Debacle.

DUCHESNE (GEORGES), a lover of Madame Bouchard, for whom she asked the patronage of Eugene Rougon, which he refused on the ground of his respect for her husband.  Son Excellence Eugene Rougon.

DUCLOUX (LA), an old woman who lived in the neighbourhood of Croix de Maufras, having formerly been servant in an inn.  Misard was authorized to employ her as gatekeeper on the railway after the death of Flore.  She was anxious to marry Misard, and seeing him constantly searching for the little hoard of money which had been hidden by his deceased wife, La Ducloux cleverly led him to believe that she knew where the money was hidden.  After she became the second Madame Misard she became infected with the feverish anxiety of her husband, and joined with him in his untiring search.  La Bete Humaine.

DUMONTEIL, a rich silk manufacturer at Lyons.  He supplied to Octave Mouret a special make of silk with which he achieved great success.  Au Bonheur des Dames.

DU POIZAT PERE, an old bailiff at Coulonges.  He was an old miser who refused any money to his son Leopold, and even threatened him with a pistol when he tried to borrow from him.  He lived alone in an old ruinous house with a loaded gun behind the door.  His son, having become a prefect, and wishing to dazzle the old man with his fine position, attempted to force the door; then followed a drama mysterious and without witness, at the end of which the old man was found lying at the foot of his staircase, with his head split open.  Son Excellence Eugene Rougon.