the good deeds of Bourgeat, nursed him as a devoted son, and, in the time of the Empire, established in honor of this simple man who professed religious sentiments a quarterly mass at Saint-Sulpice, at which he piously assisted, though himself an outspoken atheist. [The Atheist’s Mass.] In 1806 Desplein had predicted speedy death for an old fellow then fifty-six years old, but who was still alive in 1846. [Cousin Pons.] The surgeon was present at the death caused by despair of M. Chardon, an old military doctor. [Lost Illusions.] Desplein attended the last hours of Mme. Jules Desmarets, who died in 1820 or 1821; also of the chief of division, Flamet de la Billardiere, who died in 1824. [The Thirteen.  The Government Clerks.] In March, 1828, at Provins, he performed an operation of trepanning on Pierrette Lorrain. [Pierrette.] In the same year he undertook a bold operation upon Mme. Philippe Bridau whose abuse of strong drink had induced a “magnificent malady” that he believed had disappeared.  This operation was reported in the “Gazette des Hopitaux;” but the patient died. [A Bachelor’s Establishment.] In 1829 Desplein was summoned on behalf of Vanda de Mergi, daughter of Baron de Bourlac. [The Seamy Side of History.] In the latter part of the same year he operated successfully upon Mme. Mignon for blindness.  In February, 1830, on account of the foregoing, he was a witness at Modeste Mignon’s wedding with Ernest de la Briere. [Modeste Mignon.] In the beginning of the same yaer, 1830, he was called by Corentin to visit Baron de Nucingen, love-sick for Esther Gobseck; and Mme. de Serizy ill on account of the suicide of Lucien de Rubempre. [Scenes from a Courtesan’s Life.] He and his assistant, Bianchon, waited on Mme. de Bauvan, who was on the verge of death at the close of 1830 and beginning of 1831. [Honorine.] Desplein had an only daughter whose marriage in 1829 was arranged with the Prince of Loudon.

DESROCHES, clerk of the Minister of the Interior under the Empire; friend of Bridau Senior, who had procured him the position.  He was also on friendly terms with the chief’s widow, at whose home he met, nearly every evening, his colleagues Du Bruel and Claparon.  A dry, crusty man, who would never become sub-chief, despite his ability.  He earned only one thousand eight hundred francs by running a department for stamped paper.  Retired after the second return of Louis XVIII., he talked of entering as chief of bureau into an insurance company with a graduated salary.  In 1821, despite his scarcely tender disposition, Desroches undertook with much discretion and confidence to extricate Philippe Bridau out of a predicament—­the latter having made a “loan” on the cash-box of the newspaper for which he was working; he brought about his resignation without any scandal.  Desroches was a man of good “judgment.”  He remained to the last a friend of the widow Bridau after the death of MM. du Bruel and Claparon.  He was a persistent fisherman. [A Bachelor’s Establishment.]