Louise Méhudin

Also known as La Belle Normande and late in the novel as Mme Lebigre. She is one of the major characters in the novel. She lives with her mother and sister and young son is Les Halles. She was due to marry a man who worked in the corn market but he broke his back. However, in the family she was treated as a widow and had his child seven months later. She used to share a house with Lisa Quenu in the rue Pirouette, and prior to the novel was on friendly terms with her, running a fish stall near the charcuterie. She is initially adversarial towards Florent and has a major conflict with Lisa. However, as Florent teaches her son Muche she becomes attracted to him. This feeling is not reciprocated.