# M. Desmalions — The Teeth of the Tiger character guide > M. Desmalions in The Teeth of the Tiger by Maurice Leblanc. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Desmalions, Monsieur Desmalions **First appearance:** 0000-i-d-artagnan-porthos-and-monte-cristo ## Snapshot The Prefect of Police, M. Desmalions is a pragmatic and skeptical official who must weigh Don Luis Perenna's extraordinary claims against the rigid demands of the law. ## Who they are He operates at the highest level of the French justice system, responsible for the investigation into the Mornington murders and the safety of Paris. Though he respects Perenna's intellect, he is wary of his methods and the public's growing suspicion that his ally is the notorious Arsène Lupin. His decision to place Perenna under surveillance shows a man torn between using a valuable asset and containing a potential threat, making him a crucial gatekeeper in the official inquiry. ## Relationships ### [Don Luis Perenna](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_teeth_of_the_tiger_se/characters/don_luis_perenna) _professional_ M. Desmalions, the Prefect of Police, works with Don Luis as a trusted consultant on criminal cases. ### [Sergeant Mazeroux](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_teeth_of_the_tiger_se/characters/sergeant_mazeroux) _professional_ Desmalions is Mazeroux's superior, relying on him for police work and intelligence. ### [Hippolyte Fauville](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_teeth_of_the_tiger_se/characters/hippolyte_fauville) _professional_ Fauville was a scientist who had dealings with the police before his murder. ### [Florence Levasseur](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_teeth_of_the_tiger_se/characters/florence_levasseur) _social_ Florence interacts with Desmalions as a person of interest in the police investigation. ### [Cosmo Mornington](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_teeth_of_the_tiger_se/characters/cosmo_mornington) _professional_ Cosmo Mornington is a wealthy American who collaborates with Desmalions on legal and financial matters. ### [Don Luis Perenna](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_teeth_of_the_tiger_se/characters/don_luis_perenna) _professional_ M. Desmalions, the Prefect of Police, works with Don Luis as a trusted consultant on criminal cases. ### [Don Luis Perenna](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_teeth_of_the_tiger_se/characters/don_luis_perenna) _professional_ M. Desmalions, the Prefect of Police, works with Don Luis as a trusted consultant on criminal cases. ### [Sergeant Mazeroux](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_teeth_of_the_tiger_se/characters/sergeant_mazeroux) _professional_ Desmalions is Mazeroux's superior, relying on him for police work and intelligence. ### [Florence Levasseur](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_teeth_of_the_tiger_se/characters/florence_levasseur) _social_ Florence interacts with Desmalions as a person of interest in the police investigation. ### [Hippolyte Fauville](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_teeth_of_the_tiger_se/characters/hippolyte_fauville) _professional_ Fauville was a scientist who had dealings with the police before his murder. ### [Cosmo Mornington](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_teeth_of_the_tiger_se/characters/cosmo_mornington) _professional_ Cosmo Mornington is a wealthy American who collaborates with Desmalions on legal and financial matters. ### [Sergeant Mazeroux](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_teeth_of_the_tiger_se/characters/sergeant_mazeroux) _professional_ Desmalions is Mazeroux's superior, relying on him for police work and intelligence. ## In the story ### [I: d’Artagnan, Porthos… and Monte Cristo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_teeth_of_the_tiger_se/chapters/i-d-artagnan-porthos-and-monte-cristo) Prefect of Police who reads the will and codicil, and oversees the verification of Don Luis's identity. ### [A Man Dead](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_teeth_of_the_tiger_se/chapters/ii-a-man-dead) Prefect of Police; discusses the case with Perenna and reveals Inspector Vérot's strange behavior. ### [A Man Doomed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_teeth_of_the_tiger_se/chapters/iii-a-man-doomed) Mentioned as the Prefect of Police who takes immense interest in the case. ### [IV: The Clouded Turquoise](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_teeth_of_the_tiger_se/chapters/iv-the-clouded-turquoise) Prefect of Police leading the investigation; conducts a rigorous cross-examination of Perenna and Mme. Fauville. ### [The Man with the Ebony Walking-Stick](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_teeth_of_the_tiger_se/chapters/vi-the-man-with-the-ebony-walking-stick) Visits Perenna, presents the anonymous letter and the walking-stick evidence, but decides to overlook it and offers Perenna a working alliance. ### [VIII: The Devil's Post-Office](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_teeth_of_the_tiger_se/chapters/viii-the-devil-s-post-office) 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. ### [XIII: The Explosion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_teeth_of_the_tiger_se/chapters/xiii-the-explosion) Prefect of Police who initially hesitates but ultimately orders the evacuation of the house moments before the explosion. ### [XIV: The "Hater"](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_teeth_of_the_tiger_se/chapters/xiv-the-hater) The Prefect of Police who initially resists Perenna's theory but is ultimately convinced upon reading Fauville's confession. ### [XV: The Heir to the Hundred Millions](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_teeth_of_the_tiger_se/chapters/xv-the-heir-to-the-hundred-millions) Presides over the meeting and reads the letter claiming a new heir; observes Perenna closely. ### [XVI: Weber Takes His Revenge](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_teeth_of_the_tiger_se/chapters/xvi-weber-takes-his-revenge) Presides over the meeting, questions Florence, orders her arrest. ### [XVII: Open Sesame!](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_teeth_of_the_tiger_se/chapters/xvii-open-sesame) Prefect of Police present during the negotiation with Valenglay. ### [Arsène I Emperor of Mauretania](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_teeth_of_the_tiger_se/chapters/xviii-ars-ne-i-emperor-of-mauretania) Prefect of Police present during the revelation and negotiation. ### [Lupin's Lupins](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_teeth_of_the_tiger_se/chapters/xxi-lupin-s-lupins) Prefect of Police who discusses Perenna's punctuality and receives updates from Angers and Le Mans. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_teeth_of_the_tiger_se/characters/m_desmalions - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_teeth_of_the_tiger_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_teeth_of_the_tiger_se/characters