The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1918-05-02
THE
TEETH OF THE TIGER
MAURICE LEBLANC
TRANSLATED BY
ALEXANDER TEIXEIRA DE MATTOS


N "oo VII uoSb, 40 WCIC llOoC,
invariably, upon whom he himself
used to inflict this kind of defeat
and humiliation. He could not get
over it. BY what prodigy had Gas
ton Sauverand managed, in that
short space of 20 minutes, to enter
the house and make his way into
this room? Even the theory of an
accomplice living in the house did
not do much to make the phenome-
non easier to understand.
1T upsets all my calculations
he thought, "and I shall have to
go through the mill this time. I
was able to BATTLE Nine. Fauville's
accusation and to foil the trick of
the turquoise. But NJ. Desmalions
will never admit hat this is a SINH
lar attempt and that CASTOR Sau-
verand has tried, as Marie Fauville
did, to get me out of the way by
compromising me and procuring
my arrest"
"Well," exclaimed M. Desma-
lions impatiently, "answer! De-
fend YOURSELF"
"No, Monsieur lie Prefet, it is
not for me to defend myself"
M. Desmalions stamped his foot
and growled:
I'm hat case in that case
since you confess
since-'
He put his hand on the latch of
the window, ready to open it. A
whistle and the detectives would
burst in and all would be over.
"Shall l have your inspectors
called, Monsieur lie Prefet?" asked
Don Luis.
Nj. Desmalions did not reply. He
let go the window latch and
started walking about the room
again. And, suddenly, while Per-
emma was wondering why he still
hesitated, for the second time the
project planted himself in front of
him, and said:
And suppose | looked upon the
incident Of the walking stick as
not having occurred, or, rather, as
an incident which, while doubtless
proving the treachery of your SER
wants, is not able to compromise
yourself? Suppose l took only the
services which you have already
rendered us into consideration? In
a word, suppose | left you free?'
Perenna could not help smiling.
Notwithstanding the affair of the
walking stick and though appear
ances were all against him, at the
moment when everything seemed
to be going wrong, things were
taking the course which he had
phophesied from the start, and
which he had mentioned to Maze
roux during the inquiry on the
Boulevard Suchet. They wanted
him.
"Free?" he asked. ono more
supervision9 Nobody shadowing
my movements?"
Nobody"
and what il the press cam
paign around my name continues,
if the papers succeed, by means of
certain pieces of title tattle, of
certain condolences, in creating a
public cutlery, if they call for
measures against met"
"Those measures shall not be
taken"
"Then l have nothing to fear9''
Nothing"
"Will M. Weber abandon his
prejudices against me?"
"At any rate, he will act as
though he did, won't you,
Weber,"
The deputy chief uttered a few
grunts which might be taken as
an expression Of assent; and Don
Luis at once exclaimed:
"In that case, Monsieur lie Pre-.
fet, | am sure of gaining the vic.
tory and of gaining it in accord.
ance with the wishes and require.
ments of the authorities"
And so, by a sudden change il
the situation, after a series of ex.
c%eptional circumstances, the pc.
lice themselves. bowling before
Don Luis Perenna's superio,
+ qualities of mind, acknowledging
all hat he had already done anG
~foreseeing all that he w,uld BIZ
able 10 do, decided to back him up
begging for his assistance, anC
offering him, SO to speak, the com
mand of affairs.
! 1t was a flattering compliment
t Was it addressed only to Don Luis
Perennial And had Lupin, thu
terrible, undaunted Lupin, NJ
right to claim his share9 Was j
!. possible to believe that M. Desma
l lions, in hi. heart of hearts, die