Edgy patriarch finds article deposited by cat seen around Paris opera house (7)
I believe the answer is:
phantom
'around paris opera house' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this defines the answer.
'edgy patriarch finds article deposited by cat' is the wordplay.
'edgy patriarch finds' becomes 'ph' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should believe this answer much more).
'article' becomes 'an' (English indefinite article).
'deposited by' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'cat' becomes 'tom' (a tom is a male cat).
'ph'+'an'+'tom'='PHANTOM'
'seen' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for phantom that I've seen before include "Wraith" , "shadow of his former self?" , "Apparition, spectre" , "Ghost of the Opera" , "Blush" .)