Nicolas Jules St Xavier Auguste, Marquis de Maufrigneuse et Valerie-Moberanne, "Old Nick" in French Leave, twice-divorced father of Jefferson Auguste, Comte d'Escrignon. His first wife was a rich American woman, Loretta Ann Potter, who bore him his only son; second was Hermione Pegler, aunt of Chester and Mavis Todd. Employed for some time in the troisieme bureau of the Ministry de Dons et Legs, escapes via Roville-sur-mer and Belgium to Florida, where he marries a cook and migrates to New York, where he takes employment as headwaiter at The Mazarin.

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