His cousin
Chevassu, a lawyer, died leaving his fortune of five hundred thousand
francs to the Sisters of the Holy Family. Charbonnel, being next heir,
contested the will on the ground of undue influence; and the Sisterhood
having petitioned the Council of State to authorize the payment of the
bequest to them, he went to Paris, accompanied by his wife, in order to
secure the influence of Eugene Rougon. The matter dragged on for some
months, and was then indefinitely delayed by Rougon's resignation of
the Presidency of the Council of State. After Rougon's appointment as
Minister of the Interior, he induced the Council of State to refuse the
petition of the Sisterhood, and M. Charbonnel accordingly succeeded to
the estate. Subsequently the Charbonnels accused the Sisters of having
removed some of Chevassu's silver plate, and Rougon ordered the police
to make a search in the convent. This caused a scandal in the town, and
brought the Charbonnels, as well as Rougon, into popular disfavour. Son
Excellence Eugene Rougon.
CHARBONNEL (MADAME), wife of the preceding. She accompanied her husband
to Paris to assist him in looking after their interests in the estate of
his cousin Chevassu.
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