The Eight Strokes of the Clock · Character
Dutreuil
A friend of twenty years who cannot explain himself, Gaston Dutreuil drags Rénine into a condemned man's last hope and a family's grief.
supporting
Also known as Gaston Dutreuil, M. Dutreuil
First appearance: The Water-Bottle
As a supporting figure in The Eight Strokes of the Clock, Dutreuil is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.
Childhood friend of Jacques Aubrieux; brings Rénine and Hortense to the Aubrieux home.
Free preview opens at this moment — character cards, Character Web, and themes sit beside the text as you read.
Gaston Dutreuil arrives at Rénine's door stammering that Jacques Aubrieux is innocent, yet offers no evidence beyond loyalty and outrage. He leads Rénine and Hortense into a Neuilly household where two weeping women…
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The fuller portrait of Dutreuil sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.
See Dutreuil in The Water-BottleCharacter Web
10 connectionsA slice of how Dutreuil sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.
Relationship types
- Rivalry
- Other
Character groups
- Theft investigation team
- Protagonist
- De Gorne household staff
- Mistaken identity suspects
- Murder and theater suspects
+5 more in the full Character Web
Open in readerNarrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.
- Setup
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
In this excerpt, the emotional and psychological peak occurs when Hortense and Prince Rénine reveal the stakes…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingRelationships
- Hortense Daniel
rivalry · negative
Dutreuil is hostile toward Hortense Daniel, often working against her interests. How this plays out →
- Hortense Daniel
rivalry · negative
Dutreuil is hostile toward Hortense Daniel, often working against her interests. How this plays out →
- Hortense Daniel
rivalry · negative
Dutreuil is hostile toward Hortense Daniel, often working against her interests. How this plays out →
Relationship notes
How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.
See Dutreuil in The Water-BottleIn the story
Dutreuil appears across 1 companion beat. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.
Chapter companion notes
Spoil-light check-ins for Dutreuil unlock in the free preview.
See Dutreuil in The Water-Bottle