The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1918-04-11
THE
E OF THE TIGER
MAURICE LEBLANC
TRANSLATED BY
ALEXANDER TEIXEIRA DE MATTOS

quest in the absence of any direct
heirs.
lis that ala" asked Perenna.
NO" said Mile. Lavasseur,
"there is an article in the Echo de
France"
Relating to met"
Il presume so, monsieur. 1t is
called, "Why Don't They Arrest
Him?2"
THAT concerns me-" he said,
with a laugh.
He took the. newspaper and
read:
Why do they not arrest him? Why
so against logic and prolong an un-
natural situation which no decent man
IA understand? This is the question
which everybody is asking and to which
our Investigations enable us to furnish
a precise reply.
Two years ago, in other words, three
years after the pretended death OF
Arsene Lupin, the police, having dis
covered or believing they had discov-
cred that Arsene Lupin was really none
other thai one F~loriani, born at Blois
and since lost to sight, because the reg
lister to be inscribed, OF the page relat-
ing to this Floriani. with the word DE
ceased" followed by the words Under
the alias of Arsene Lupin."
Consequently, to bring Arsene Lupin
back TO life, there would be wanted
something more than the undeniable
proof Of his existence, which would not
be impossible. The most complicated
wheels in the administrative machine
would have to be set in motion, and a
decree obtained from the council Of
state.
Now Il would seem that NJ. Valenglay,
the prime minister, together with the
project OF police, is opposed to making
any too minute inquiries capable Of
opening up a scandal which the author
tiles are anxious to avoid. Bring Arsepe
Lupln back to life? Recommence the
struggle with that accursed scoundrel?
Risk a fresh defeat and fresh ridicule?
No, no, and again no!
And thus is brought about this un-
precedented, in admissible, inconceiva-
bic, disgraceful situation, that Arsene
Lupin, the hardened thief, the impeni-
tent criminal, the robber king, the m
peror Of burglars and swindlers, is able
today. not clandestinely, but in the
sight and hearing of the whole world,
TO pursue the most formidable task that
he has yet undertaken, to live publicly
under a name which is not his own, but
which he has incontestably made his
own, to destroy with impunity four per-
the imprisonment of an innocent wom-
an against whom he himself has ac-
cumulated false evidence, and at the
end of all. despite the protests Of com
mon sense and thanks to an unavowed
completely. to receive the 100, 0GO, 0O0
francs of the Morninston legacy.
There is the ignominous truth i'm q
nutshell. 1t is well that it should be
stated. Let us hope, now that 1t stands
revealed, that it will influence the
future conduct of events.
cat any rate, it will influence
the conduct Of the idiot who wrote
that article" said Lupin, with a
grin.
He dismissed Mile. Lavasseur
and rang up Major d'Astrignac
on the telephone.
lis that you, major9 Perenns
speaking"
yes, what is it,
"Have you read the article in
the Echo de France?"
Yes"
Would it bore you very much
to call on that gentleman and ask
for satisfaction in my name?"
"Oh! A duel!'
Its got to be, major. All these
sportsmen are wearying me with
their lucubrations. They must be
gagged. This fellow will pay fol
the rest
well, of course, if you re bent
on it -"
81 am, very much
The preliminarics were entered
upon without delay. The editor OF
the Echo de France declared tina,
the article had been sent in with
out a signature, typewriter, and
that it had been published without
his knowledge: but he accepted
the entire responsibility.
That same day, at 3 o'clock, Dor
Luis Perenna, accompanied by
Major d'Astrignac, another Officer
and d doctor, left the house in tn,
Place dc Palais- Bourbon in his car
and, followed by a taxi crammet
with the detectives engaged il
watching him, drove to the Par,
DIES Princes.
While waiting FOR the arrival O
the adversary, the Comte d'Astrig
mac took Don Luis aside.
MY dear Perenna, I ask you III
questions. l don't want to know
how much truth there is in all tina
is being written about you, or wha
your raal no, nc ia 10 me you ar