RASTIGNAC (Henri de), the fifth child, probably of the Baron de Rastignac and his wife.  Nothing is known of his life. [Father Goriot.]

RATEL, gendarme in the Orne district; in 1809, along with his fellow-officer, Mallet, was charged with the capture of “Lady” Bryond des Miniares, who was implicated in the affair known as the “Chauffeurs de Mortagne.”  He found the fugitive, but, instead of arresting her, allowed himself to be unduly influenced by her, and then protected her and let her escape.  This action on his part was known to Mallet.  Ratel, when imprisoned, confessed all, and committed suicide before the time assigned for trial. [The Seamy Side of History.]

RAVENOUILLET, porter in Bixiou’s house, at No. 112 rue Richelieu, in 1845; son of a Carcassonne grocer; a steward throughout his life and owed his first position to his fellow-countryman, Massol.  Ravenouillet, although uneducated was not unintelligent.  According to Bixiou, he was the “Providence at thirty per cent” of the seventy-one lodgers in the house, through whom he netted in the neighborhood of six thousand francs a month. [The Unconscious Humorists.]

RAVENOUILLET (Madame), wife of the preceding. [The Unconscious Humorists.]

RAVENOUILLET (Lucienne), daughter of the preceding couple, was in 1845 a pupil in the Paris Conservatory of Music. [The Unconscious Humorists.]

REGNAULD (Baron) (1754-1829), celebrated artist, member of the Institute.  Joseph Bridau, when fourteen, was a frequent visitor at his studio, in 1812-1813. [A Bachelor’s Establishment.]

REGNAULT, former chief clerk to Maitre Roguin, a Paris notary; came to Vendome in 1816 and purchased there a notaryship.  He was called by Madame de Merret to her death-bed, and was made her executor.  In this position, some years later, he urged Doctor Bianchon to respect one of the last wishes of the deceased by discontinuing his promenades in the Grande Breteche garden, as she had wished this property to remain entirely unused for half a century.  Maitre Regnault married a wealthy cousin of Vendome.  Regnault was tall and slender, with sloping forehead, small pointed head and wan complexion.  He frequently used the expression, “One moment.” [La Grande Breteche.]

REGNIER (Claude-Antoine), Duc de Massa, born in 1746, died 1814; an advocate, and afterwards deputy to the Constituency; was high justice —­justice of the peace—­during the celebrated trial of the Simeuses and Hauteserres, accused of the abduction of Senator Malin.  He noticed the talent displayed by Granville for the defendants, and a little later, having met him at Archchancelor Cambaceres’s house, he took the young barrister into his own carriage, setting him down on the Quai des Augustins, at the young man’s door, after giving him some practical advice and assuring him of his protection. [The Gondreville Mystery.  A Second Home.]