Modern French poet and novelist, born at Marly le Roi, near Paris; studied law, and in 1857 received a post in the office of the Minister of Finance; has published several volumes of poems, dealing chiefly with rustic life, but is more widely known by his novels, such as "Mademoiselle Guignon," "Le Mariage de Gérard," "Deux Soeurs," etc., all of them more or less tinged with melancholy, but also inspired by true poetic feeling; born 1833.