Paul Morand is a millionaire French diplomat and Germanophile who finances the archaeological expedition to Hermopolis while being the declared enemy of those who dig there: «Gente peligrosa esta. Pero que tiene dinero.» (“Dangerous people. But they have money.“)
| Type | Character (antagonist) |
| Chronicle | ldc |
| Base | Shepheard’s Hotel, Cairo |
| Spanish entry | Paul Morand |
Description
“A kind of Johnny Depp with a little mustache, when he plays the villain”, in a vest; “a Germanophile Frenchie”. His power rests on his post and his fortune. He funded the expedition and launched its premise: “they say there may be a forgotten temple here”. He seeks ancient artifacts, moves them through criminal networks, and knows esoteric occultism, which gives him a reason to want the temple beyond profit.
He holds that “one should not have been so wicked to the French”, likes “the more Mussolini-type Italians”, and thinks “perhaps there is a promising figure in Berlin nowadays who could save that people”.
Encounters
- A first encounter with the company in the hotel elevator, in Egypt’s circuit of hotels and digs.
- He reappeared on the railway from Luxor with an armed group.
- He was once introduced as “a third friend” of an unidentified circle.
Conflicting accounts
- The name also appears as Moran, Morano, Morin and Morz.
- A Porvorá matches his description exactly (mustache, malevolent air, elevator); whether he is the same man is not established.
Open questions
- What he seeks in the temple: the piece, esoteric knowledge, or both.
- His exact post and accreditation; which criminal networks he uses.
- The size of his fortune, his funding and his armed group.