# M. Courtois — The Mystery of Orcival character guide

> M. Courtois in The Mystery of Orcival by Émile Gaboriau.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Courtois, Monsieur Courtois

**First appearance:** 0001-ii

## Snapshot

Orcival's respectable mayor, whose cheerful certainty that the count and countess were a model couple proves how perfectly a village can be fooled.

## Who they are

As the local magistrate and father of Laurence, Courtois embodies the surface calm of Orcival, the town that saw nothing and suspected nothing. His confident testimony to M. Domini that the Trémorels adored each other becomes a quiet indictment of respectable appearances, and his position ties him to the very household the investigation will pull apart. He matters because his ordinary decency is exactly what the crime was built to exploit.

## In the story

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_orcival_se/chapters/i)

The mayor of Orcival, awakened early by the Bertauds to report a crime. He is agitated but tries to maintain dignity.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_orcival_se/chapters/ii)

The mayor, who is horrified by the scene but tries to maintain his official composure; he directs the investigation and sends for the judge.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_orcival_se/chapters/iii)

The mayor of Orcival, jealous of Plantat's knowledge, recounts his initial investigation.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_orcival_se/chapters/iv)

Mayor present during interrogations; displeased by the suggestion to eat but follows the group.

### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_orcival_se/chapters/v)

The mayor, he gives a speech to the crowd outside, attempting to restore order and assert his authority.

### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_orcival_se/chapters/vi)

The mayor, present at the investigation, but leaves urgently after learning his wife collapsed upon receiving a letter from their daughter.

### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_orcival_se/chapters/ix)

In deep grief over Laurence, he begs for help and is taken to bed by servants after the doctor's orders.

### [XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_orcival_se/chapters/xvi)

Pleased at the prospect of his daughter marrying a count; hosts Hector and encourages the match.

### [XXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_orcival_se/chapters/xxii)

Reported by Dr. Gendron to be better, weeping like a child but expected to recover.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_orcival_se/characters/m_courtois
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_orcival_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_orcival_se/characters