Galula

Overview

A young Niçois man, aspiring notary. Following Kernberger (2013, glossary: "Fiouloulou: nickname for Galula"; Galula = Dechiar Galula, notary's clerk in Nice and Audiffret's friend), this project identifies him as Galula — see Galula. Marie refers to him by the nickname "Fiouloulou" (sometimes spelled "Fioulouiou"). He is a persistent but unwanted suitor who becomes Audiffret's loyal follower.

Identity

• Our identification (following Kernberger 2013): Fiouloulou = Galula (Dechiar Galula), the notary's clerk who is Audiffret's friend and follower. This fits Marie's "futur notaire" and his role at Audiffret's side.
• Our earlier reading (kept for the record): in carnet 045 (1875-10-02) Marie writes "le futur notaire Fiouloulou-Detriaz", and this entry previously took Detriaz as his real surname and did not connect him to Galula. "Detriaz" and Kernberger's "Dechiar" are plausibly the same name in different spellings or readings, which would make the two identifications compatible. Not verified against the manuscript.
• Dark-haired ("le noir Niçois")
• Training to become a notary ("le futur notaire")
• Marie earlier referred to him as "clerk" in English

Role in Marie's Circle (1875)

By autumn 1875 (carnet 045), Fiouloulou occupies a specific social role:

• Audiffret's "Figaro": Marie calls him Audiffret's servant/valet, comparing him to the famous Beaumarchais character
• "Suivant-confident": Marie elevates him to the theatrical role of the attendant-confidant
• The faithful one: After Audiffret abandons Marie for Gioia, Fiouloulou is "le seul, le fidèle, l'insignifiant Fiouloulou" — the only one who still attends to Marie
• Minor romantic interest: He "dares to court" Marie, and she tolerates it out of boredom
• Cinderella scene: In a playful incident, Marie's slipper falls down the stairs and Fiouloulou retrieves it — "Cendrillon et le prince charmant!" she notes ironically

Diary References

1874

• April 18: Marie calls him "clerk" — someone she avoids showing herself to at the theater

1875

• Sept 26: Elevated to "suivant-confident"; courts Marie; accompanies Audiffret
• Sept 28: Labeled "personnage secondaire" (secondary character)
• Sept 30: "Le fidèle Fiouloulou" at Marie's carriage during the promenade
• Oct 1: Fiouloulou discusses Marie's "puissance" (power) with her aunt
• Oct 2: Marie notes he is present at the Sapogenikoff soirée; she avoids singing in front of him
• Oct 4: Stays nearly the whole evening at the theater with Marie; asks Olga if she has any message for "Girofla"
• Oct 5: Included in Marie's caricature drawings of the Niçois circle
• Oct 7: "Fidèle Fiouloulou! Pourquoi?"
• Oct 12: First to arrive at the theater; helps Marie into her carriage