The Teeth of the Tiger · Chapter
XI: Routed explained
Don Luis Perenna faces a critical confrontation as Deputy Chief Weber arrives with detectives, threatening to expose his protection of Florence Levasseur and Gaston Sauverand.
What happens
Don Luis Perenna faces a critical confrontation as Deputy Chief Weber arrives with detectives, threatening to expose his protection of Florence Levasseur and Gaston Sauverand. Perenna attempts to deceive Weber by claiming he has captured the fugitives, but Weber grows suspicious. Meanwhile, Sauverand and Florence escape through a secret passage hidden in a window chest, leaving a note urging Perenna to save Marie Fauville. Perenna discovers the passage and follows, but finds the exits guarded by police, trapping him in a desperate situation.
Themes in this chapter
Identity and Disguise
Perenna's dual identity as Arsène Lupin is hinted at, and he uses deception (the fake phone call) to mislead Weber.
Love and Obsession
Sauverand's love for Marie Fauville drives his actions; Perenna's protective feelings toward Florence are evident.
Crime and Punishment
The chapter deals with the consequences of the Fauville murders and the characters' attempts to evade justice.
Intelligence and Cunning
Perenna's clever ruse with the telephone and the discovery of the secret passage highlight his strategic mind.
Characters to notice
- Don Luis Perenna
Tries to outwit Deputy Chief Weber by claiming he has captured Florence and Sauverand, but is ultimately outmaneuvered; discovers the secret passage used by the fugitives.
- Florence Levasseur
Escapes with Sauverand through a secret passage; leaves a note asking Perenna to save Marie Fauville.
- Gaston Sauverand
Explains his reasons for not surrendering to police; escapes with Florence through the hidden passage.
- Deputy Chief Weber
Arrives with six detectives to arrest Perenna; is tricked by a fake telephone call but quickly realizes he has been deceived.
- Sergeant Mazeroux
Mentioned as having been stabbed in the thumb and sent to the chemist; his absence is used by Perenna in the ruse.
- Marie Fauville
Referenced as the woman Sauverand loves and seeks to rescue; her guilt is questioned in Sauverand's explanations.
- Hippolyte Fauville
Mentioned in Sauverand's account as having written letters revealing jealousy and suspicion.
- Inspector Vérot
Referenced in Sauverand's explanation about the Café du Pont-Neuf incident.
Key passages
“Don Luis, against whom he had never yet been able to satisfy his hatred. And his delight was all the greater because he held every trump, whereas Don Luis had put himself in the wrong by defending Florence Levasseur and tampering with the girl’s portrait.”
Weber relished the chance to finally get back at Perenna, especially since Perenna had compromised himself by protecting Florence and altering her portrait.
Highlights Weber's personal vendetta against Perenna.
“Weber was there—that is to say, the chief leader of the enemies, the man who would be sure to plan the attack and the resistance in such a manner as to dash Perenna’s hopes to the ground.”
Weber's arrival signaled the end of Perenna's chances, as he was the most formidable adversary.
Emphasizes the threat Weber poses to Perenna's plans.
“In a second, Don Luis conjured up the whole story of the past: Count Malonyi’s ancestress hiding in the old family mansion, escaping the search of the perquisitors, and in this way living throughout the revolutionary troubles.”
Perenna instantly understood the historical origin of the secret passage, recalling how Count Malonyi's ancestor used it to hide during the Revolution.
Reveals the historical depth of the hidden passage.
“We are trying to escape so as not to compromise you. If we are caught, it can’t be helped. The great thing is that you should be free. All our hopes are centred in you.”
Sauverand and Florence fled to avoid implicating Perenna, urging him to stay free and carry on their cause.
Shows the fugitives' self-sacrificing intent.
