M. de Saffré

The young secretary to Eugene Rougon, the government minister. He was a regular at Blanche Muller's parties and even unwittingly propositioned Renée when she went there incognito. He was later to have realized who she was and claimed to have fallen in love with her. Mme. Sidonie tried to get Renée to accept his advances when she needed some money but Renée declined. He had a brief affair with Mme. Michelin and we last hear of him falling in love with Countess Wanska.