Ambroise

Overview

Ambroise, the Bashkirtseffs' coachman (cocher) in Nice in 1875–1876, a member of the household staff. His wife is the maid Léonie (044.0114). Mon Journal indexes: t.5 «Ambroise (cocher), 45, 125, 233» and «Ambroise (domestique), mari de Léonie, 167, 347»; t.6 «Ambroise (cocher), 144»; t.8 «Ambroise (cocher) : 185»; t.7 «Ambroise (Thomas) : 7, 13» is the composer, a different person and not tagged here.

Relevance to Marie

Ambroise is the household's source of gossip, especially about Audiffret, whom the women of the house are watching.

• 2 May 1875. The family eats a pound of cheese in the landau at Basse's shop and «Ambroise, le cocher, nous voyant à l'œuvre» looks on (032.0221).
• 14 June 1875. He tells Dina (who repeats it to Marie) that Mme d'Audiffret arrived at the château «une ravissante petite poupée», taken from the convent at fourteen to marry M. d'Audiffret (034.0283–0284).
• 8 July 1875. The dog Mops, after Trifon killed it by grandfather's order, had been given to Ambroise to look after (035.0293).
• 3 August 1875; 6 November 1875. «Même notre cocher Ambroise» says it is the habit of «cet homme» (Audiffret) to «faire la cour et puis planter là» (038.0069); Marie's mother quotes «Ambroise m'a dit: Madame, Monsieur Emile fait la cour à toutes les demoiselles» (049.0017).
• 23 September 1875. Léonie is «la femme d'Ambroise» (044.0114).
• 26 January 1876. Maman says the break is a mark of courtship, «à maman l'a dit le savant Ambroise» (053.0096).
• 18–19 June 1876. Listed among the staff for Chocolat's first communion (062.0450, reader footnote 2 of that entry).

References in Diary

• First mentioned: 1875-05-02 (032.0221). Ten tagged paragraphs in carnets 032–062.