Among the title character's lovers are Muffat and the actor Fontan, who beats her, as well as Georges Hugon, who stabs himself with scissors in her bedroom.
After the title character of this novel wins two thousand louis by betting on a horse named for her, Xavier de Vandeuvres discovers that he has lost everything through a crooked bet and sets fire to the stables, killing himself and the horses. The title character is first spotted by Fauchery while playing the part of "The Blonde Venus," and Philippe Hugon is imprisoned for stealing army funds for her. Among the title character's lovers are Muffat and the actor Fontan, who beats her, as well as Georges Hugon, who stabs himself with scissors in her bedroom. Ending with the title character's death from smallpox on the eve of the Franco-Prussian War, for ten points, identify this 1880 novel from the Rougon Macquart series, written by Emile Zola.
After the title character of this novel wins two thousand louis by betting on a horse named for her, Xavier de Vandeuvres discovers that he has lost everything through a crooked bet and sets fire to the stables, killing himself and the horses.
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