The Teeth of the Tiger · Chapter
The Man with the Ebony Walking-Stick explained
Deputy Chief Weber leads a raid to arrest Hubert Lautier at 8 Boulevard Richard-Wallace, but the arrest proceeds without resistance.
What happens
Deputy Chief Weber leads a raid to arrest Hubert Lautier at 8 Boulevard Richard-Wallace, but the arrest proceeds without resistance. Meanwhile, the Prefect of Police, M. Desmalions, visits Don Luis Perenna and presents an anonymous letter accusing Perenna of being Arsène Lupin and of hiding half of a walking-stick under his sofa cushions. The stick halves match, yet Desmalions offers Perenna a compact: he will overlook the evidence in exchange for Perenna's continued cooperation. Perenna accepts, and Desmalions shows him a photograph found in Inspector Vérot's notebook, which Perenna recognizes but does not immediately identify.
Themes in this chapter
Identity and Disguise
Perenna's dual identity as Don Luis and Arsène Lupin is hinted at; the Prefect's compact suggests he may suspect the truth but chooses to work with Perenna.
Intelligence and Cunning
Perenna outmaneuvers the incriminating evidence through negotiation and quick thinking, turning a potential arrest into an alliance.
Characters to notice
- Don Luis Perenna
Receives the Prefect of Police in his study; is confronted with the incriminating walking-stick half but negotiates a compact to remain free and assist the police.
- M. Desmalions
Visits Perenna, presents the anonymous letter and the walking-stick evidence, but decides to overlook it and offers Perenna a working alliance.
- Deputy Chief Weber
Leads the raid to arrest Hubert Lautier; accompanies Desmalions to Perenna's study and reluctantly agrees to the compact.
- Sergeant Mazeroux
Participates in the raid at Boulevard Richard-Wallace, tries to delay the arrest, and is present during the arrest of Hubert Lautier.
- Hubert Lautier
Arrested at his home by Weber and the police; appears confused and protests his innocence.
- Gaston Sauverand
Implied to have planted the walking-stick half in Perenna's study; the letter accuses him of meeting Perenna and handing over the stick.
Key passages
“A group consisting of Deputy Chief Detective Weber, Chief Inspector Ancenis, Sergeant Mazeroux, three inspectors, and the Neuilly commissary of police stood outside the gate of No. 8 Boulevard Richard-Wallace.”
Weber, Ancenis, Mazeroux, three inspectors, and the Neuilly police commissioner gathered at the gate of 8 Boulevard Richard-Wallace.
Describes the police team assembled for the arrest.
“The man seemed disconcerted. Five revolvers were levelled at him. And yet no sign of fear showed in his face; and he simply said: 'What do you want, Monsieur? What are you here for?'”
Hubert Lautier appeared startled but remained calm, asking the officers why they were there.
Shows Lautier's initial reaction to the arrest.
“You will find it under the cushions of a sofa standing between the two windows of Perenna’s study.”
The letter claimed the walking-stick half was hidden under the sofa cushions in Perenna's study.
The anonymous letter's accusation against Perenna.
“And suppose I 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 servants, is not able to compromise yourself?”
Desmalions offered to disregard the walking-stick evidence as a servant's betrayal rather than Perenna's guilt.
The Prefect's proposal to overlook the incriminating evidence.
