The Teeth of the Tiger · Chapter
VIII: The Devil's Post-Office explained
The public is captivated by the Mornington case, the attempted suicide of Mme.
What happens
The public is captivated by the Mornington case, the attempted suicide of Mme. Fauville, the capture and escape of Gaston Sauverand, the murder of Chief Inspector Ancenis, and the discovery of a letter by Hippolyte Fauville. Don Luis Perenna, often confused with Arsène Lupin, is credited with saving the Prefect of Police and receiving Fauville's letter. Despite four attempts on his life, life continues at the Place du Palais-Bourbon, where Florence Levasseur sorts his mail. Don Luis suspects Florence orchestrated the house purchase to spy on him and links her to the murders. A third letter from Fauville accuses his wife Marie and Gaston Sauverand of being lovers and plotting his murder. Marie Fauville attempts suicide in her cell, leaving a note advising the police to consult M. Langernault. Don Luis begins to see a pattern in the letters and decides to investigate.
Themes in this chapter
Crime and Punishment
The chapter details multiple murders, attempted murders, and suicide attempts, highlighting the cycle of crime and the pursuit of justice.
Love and Obsession
The love affair between Marie Fauville and Gaston Sauverand is revealed as the motive behind the murders, illustrating obsessive love leading to crime.
Identity and Disguise
Don Luis Perenna is confused with Arsène Lupin, and the mysterious delivery of letters suggests hidden identities and secret methods.
Characters to notice
- Don Luis Perenna
The central figure, credited with saving the Prefect of Police and receiving Fauville's letter; he suspects Florence and investigates the case.
- Florence Levasseur
Sorts Don Luis's mail daily; Don Luis suspects she orchestrated the house purchase and is involved in the murders.
- Marie Fauville
Accused by her husband's letter of being a lover of Gaston Sauverand and plotting his murder; attempts suicide in her cell.
- Gaston Sauverand
Captured and escaped; accused in Fauville's letter of being Marie's lover and conspiring to kill Fauville.
- Sergeant Mazeroux
Brings news of Marie Fauville's suicide attempt and is on his way to catch a train.
- M. Desmalions
Prefect of Police who personally attends the vigil on the night of May 5 and May 15 to witness the delivery of the mysterious letters.
Key passages
“Of all these events the public knew only of the attempted suicide of Mme. Fauville, the capture and escape of Gaston Sauverand, the murder of Chief Inspector Ancenis, and the discovery of a letter written by Hippolyte Fauville.”
The public was only aware of a few key events: Mme. Fauville's suicide attempt, Sauverand's capture and escape, Ancenis's murder, and the discovery of a letter from Hippolyte Fauville.
Summarizes the public's limited knowledge of the case.
“He now understood that he had not bought the house by accident. In making the purchase he had been persuaded by an anonymous offer that reached him in the form of a typewritten prospectus. Whence did this offer come, if not from Florence, who wished to have him near her in order to spy upon him and wage war upon him?”
Don Luis realized that his purchase of the house was no accident; he had been lured by an anonymous prospectus, likely from Florence, who wanted to spy on and attack him.
Reveals Don Luis's suspicion that Florence manipulated him into buying the house.
“Hippolyte Fauville from his grave named and accused his guilty wife. From his grave he supplied the solution to the riddle and explained the reason why the crimes had been committed: Marie Fauville and Gaston Sauverand were lovers.”
In his posthumous letter, Hippolyte Fauville accused his wife Marie and Gaston Sauverand of being lovers, providing the motive for the crimes.
Key revelation of the lovers' motive for murder.
“She wrote a few words on a scrap of paper, saying that, on thinking it over, she advised us to ask a certain M. Langernault about the mysterious letters. He was the only friend that she had known her husband to possess...”
Marie Fauville left a note suggesting the police consult M. Langernault, her husband's only known friend, about the mysterious letters.
Marie's suicide note directs the investigation toward Langernault.
