CORENTIN, born at Vendome in 1777; a police-agent of great genius, trained by Peyrade as Louis David was by Vien.  A favorite of Fouche’s and probably his natural son.  In 1799 he accompanied Mlle. de Verneuil sent to lure and betray Alphonse de Montauran, the young chief of the Bretons who were risen against the Republic.  For two years Corentin was attached to this strange girl as a serpent to a tree. [The Chouans.] In 1803 he and his chief, Peyrade, were entrusted with a difficult mission in the department of Aube, where he had to search the home of Mlle. de Cinq-Cygne.  She surprised him at the moment when he was forcing open a casket, and struck him a blow with her riding whip.  This he avenged cruelly, involving, despite their innocence, the Hauteserres and the Simeuses, friends and cousins of the young girl.  This was during the affair of the abduction of Senator Malin.  About the same time he concluded another delicate mission to Berlin to the satisfaction of Talleyrand, the Minister of Foreign Affairs. [The Gondreville Mystery.] From 1824 to 1830, Corentin was pitted against the terrible Jacques Collin, alias Vautrin, whose friendly plans in behalf of Lucien de Rubempre he thwarted so cruelly.  Corentin it was who rendered futile the contemplated marriage of the aspirant with Clotilde de Grandlieu, bringing about as a consequence the absolute ruin of the “distinguished provincial at Paris.”  He rusticated at Passy, rue des Vignes, about May, 1830.  Under Charles X., Corentin was chief of the political police of the chateau. [Scenes from a Courtesan’s Life.] For more than thirty years he lived on rue Honore-Chevalier under the name of M. du Portail.  He sheltered Lydie, daughter of his friend, Peyrade, after the death of the old police-agent.  About 1840 he brought about her marriage with Theodose de la Peyrade, nephew of Peyrade, after having upset the plans of the very astute young man, greatly in love with Celeste Colleville’s dowry.  Corentin—­M. du Portail—­then installed the chosen husband of his adopted child into his own high official duties. [The Middle Classes.]

CORMON (Rose-Marie-Victoire). (See Bousquier, Madame du.)

CORNEVIN, an old native of Perche; foster-father of Olympe Michaud.  He was with the Chouans in 1794 and 1799.  In 1823 he was servant at Michaud’s. [The Peasantry.]

CORNOILLER (Antoine), game-keeper at Saumur; married the sturdy Nanon then fifty-nine years old, after the death of Grandet, about 1827, and became general overseer of lands and properties of Eugenie Grandet. [Eugenie Grandet.]

CORNOILLER (Madame). (See Nanon.)

COTTEREAU, well-known smuggler, one of the heads of the Breton insurrection.  In 1799 he was principal in a rather stormy scene at the Vivetiere, when he threatened the Marquis de Montauran with swearing allegiance to the First Consul if he did not immediately obtain noteworthy advantages in payment of seven years of devoted service to “the good cause.”  “My men and I have a devilish importunate creditor,” said he, slapping his stomach.  One of the brothers of Jean Cottereau, was nick-named the “Chouan,” a title used by all the Western rebels against the Republic. [The Chouans.]