Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1918-02-07
THE
TEETH OF THE G F
MAURICE LEBLANO
TRANSLATED BY
TEIXEIRA DE- MATTOs
CHAPTER oNE-tcontinued).

M. Desmalions stopped once
more and raised his eyes to Dor
Luis, who remained silent and inn
passive, though a tear glistened
on his lashes. Comte d'Astrignac
said:
My congratulations, Perenna.''
LET me remind you, major"
he answered, "that this legacy is
subject to a condition. And /
swear that, if it depends on me,
the survivors of the Roussel family
shall be found
TIN sure of it," said the Off
e Il. Il know YOU"
"In any case" asked the pre-
feet of police of Don Luis, "you
do not refuse This conditional
legacy?"
"Well, no." said Perenna, with
a laugh. "There are things which
one can't refuse"
"My question: said the pre-
fect,."was prompted by the last
paragraph of the will: IF, for any
reason, my friend Percnna should
refuse this legacy, or if he should
have died before the date fixed for
its payment, | request the ambas-
sador of the United States and the
project Of police for the time be-
ing to consult as to the means of
building and maintaining in Paris
q university confined to students
and artists OF American national
lty and to devote the money to this
purpose. And hereby authorize
the project of police in any ease to
receive a sun Of 300, 900 francs out
OF my estate for the benefit OF the
Paris police fund.
NJ. Desmalions folded the paper
and took up another.
There is ii codicii TO the will.
1t consists of Il letter which Mr..
Mornington wrote to Maitre Lep-
ertuls some time after and which
explains certain points with great
l X.
err precision:
l request Maitre I.epertuis to open
my will IN the day after m, death, in
the presence Of the project of police.
who will be good enough, to keep the
matter an entire secret for a ncnth
One month later, to the day, he will
have the kindness 10 summon 10 his
office Maitrc Lepeltuis, Don Luis Fer
emma, and Il prominent member OF the
United States embassy. Subsequent. TO
the reading of the will, Il cheque for
l,o0U,00O france shall be handed 10 my
friend II legatee Don Luis Perenna,
after a simple examination of hi.. pa
pers n a simple notification OF his
identity. / should wish his vertical
ton to be made as regards the person
atty by Major Comte d'Astrignac, who
was his commanding officer In Morroc-
co, and who unfortunately had to re-
tire p~rematurely from the army: and
as regards birth by a member of the
Peruvian legation, as Dor Luis Peren-
ma, though retaining his Spanish ma
tionality, was born in Peru.
Furthermore, l desire that my will
be not communicated to the Roussel
heirs until two days later, at Maitre
Lepertuis' office. Finally-and this is
the last expression Of my wishes as re-
CARDS the disposal of my estate and
the method Of proceeding with that dis
posal-the project OF police will be
good enough to summon the persons
aforesaid to his office, for a second
time, at a date to be selected by him
self, not less than 60 nor more than 90
not till then win the definite legatee
be named and proclaimed according to
his rights, nor shall my be SO named
and proclaimed unless he be present at
this meeting, at the conclusion Of which
Don Luis Perenna, who must also at
tend 1t. shall become the definite Legal
tee II. as l have said, no survivor nor
cousin Victor have come forward to
claim the bequest.
Replacing both documents in
the envelope the project of police
concluded:
You have now, gentlemen,
heard the will Of Mr.. Cosmo Morn
ington, which explains your pres
ence here. "A sixth person will join
us shortly: one Of my detectives,
whom I instructed to make the
first inquiries about the Roussel
family and who will give you the
result of his Investigations. But,
for the moment, we must proceed
IA accordance with the testator's
directions.
p Luis Perenna's papers,
which he sent to me, at my request
q fortnight ago, have been exam
ined BY myself and are perfectly
ia order. As regards His birth,
wrote and begged his e~xcellency
the Pruyiansminister to collect the
mott precise information
Minister entrusted Mis-