Belle-de-jour (George Bergerault)

Overview

«Belle-de-jour» (morning glory, the flower that closes at night) is Marie's nickname for George Bergerault, a young man of Nice and an associate of Emile d'Audiffret (Kernberger 2013, glossary: "Belle-de-jour: nickname for George Bergerault, associate of Audiffret"; "Bergerault, George: acquaintance in Nice"). On 16 January 1877 General Bihovetz gives him a second nickname, «l'inspecteur des chiens» (the dog-catcher), which Marie adopts (Kernberger 2013; 068.0753, 068.0863).

Relevance to Marie

Part of the Audiffret set at the Nice Skating-rink and opera in 1876-1877. Marie snubs him repeatedly because he avoided greeting her in public; on 5 February 1877 she corrects the nickname to the masculine «Bel-de-jour» and turns her back on him when he finally greets her (068.0975). She names him «Bergerault» alongside Audiffret on 18 December 1876 (068.0180).

References in Diary

• Nice, December 1875 (050, 051); dreams of his visiting card in Rome, 1876-01-30 (053.0244–0245, «Directeur de Notre-Dame»), 1876-02-03 (053.0352), 1876-02-24 (054.0415–0416, «violoniste del Re»); in Rome himself: «le véritable Bergerault en voiture avec une fort jolie femme, au Corso» (054.0418), «Le vautour Bergerault est encore ici» (055.0694, 1876-03-14). Mon Journal t.7 index: «Bergerault (Georges), [Belle-de-jour] : 26, 35, 84, 142».
• 067 (December 1876), 068: 1876-12-15, 1876-12-16, 1876-12-18, 1877-01-20, 1877-01-28, 1877-02-05

Related

• EMILE_D_AUDIFFRET
• BIHOVETZ