# Catenac — The Slaves of Paris character guide

> Catenac in The Slaves of Paris by Émile Gaboriau.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** M. Catenac, XX

**First appearance:** 0000-part-i-caught-in-the-net

## Snapshot

A lawyer whose honest face is his most profitable asset, Catenac mediates between criminals who dare not meet in open court.

## Who they are

Catenac earns thirty thousand francs a year not by pleading but by making scandals quietly disappear — settling disputes between murderers quarreling over booty, hearing confessions in his Rue Jacob office that would bring down the roof. Nature or dissimulation has given him the face of a trustworthy man, and he trades on it. When Mascarin and Hortebise summon him to join their great plan, his genial smile never falters, though he is already calculating how to escape the room.

## Relationships

### [Baptiste Mascarin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/characters/baptiste_mascarin)

_professional_

Mascarin and Catenac are criminal partners, collaborating in a network of fraud and extortion.

### [Baptiste Mascarin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/characters/baptiste_mascarin)

_professional_

Mascarin and Catenac are criminal partners, collaborating in a network of fraud and extortion.

### [Baptiste Mascarin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/characters/baptiste_mascarin)

_professional_

Mascarin and Catenac are criminal partners, collaborating in a network of fraud and extortion.

## In the story

### [A Turn of the Screw](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/chapters/xvi-a-turn-of-the-screw)

Refuses to participate in the new risky scheme, citing his wealth and desire to avoid danger, but is confronted with evidence that Mascarin knows his true financial standing.

### [Some Scraps of Paper](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/chapters/xvii-some-scraps-of-paper)

A lawyer and associate, protests Mascarin's openness but is overruled.

### [XVIII: An Infamous Trade](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/chapters/xviii-an-infamous-trade)

The lawyer who will draw up the prospectus and articles of association for the fraudulent company.

### [Father and Son](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/chapters/xxiii-father-and-son)

M. Gandelu's lawyer; advised Gandelu on legal steps against Zora.

### [The Last Link](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/chapters/xxvii-the-last-link)

Accused of treachery for withholding the scar clue; threatened by Mascarin with ruin.

### [XIX: Mascarin Speaks](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/chapters/xix-mascarin-speaks)

Catenac, the Duke's lawyer, is confronted by Mascarin for withholding information and eventually agrees to cooperate.

### [A Sudden Check](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/chapters/xx-a-sudden-check)

Conceals anger and jealousy while questioning Mascarin's plan; notes details and challenges the deception.

### [A Melancholy Masher](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/chapters/xxi-a-melancholy-masher)

Mentioned as the lawyer advising M. Gandelu; Gaston plans to challenge him.

### [XXX: The Veiled Portrait](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/chapters/xxx-the-veiled-portrait)

Identified as the solicitor who informed on Gaston and advised legal action; linked to the conspiracy.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/characters/catenac
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/characters