the
reeds,” he told me, “just by the dead poplar …”
‘As I said, at least six people were
there who heard him say that. Everyone round here knows that the dead poplar is between
the Nauds’ house and the place where Albert’s body was found …
‘This way … We’re going to
the dairy, you can see the chimney on the left …’
They had left the village. Dark hedges
surrounded small gardens. A little further on, the dairy came into view, a collection of
low buildings painted white and a tall chimney rising sheer into the sky.
‘I don’t know
why I thought of sticking the cap in my pocket. I already had the feeling too many
people wanted this business hushed up.
‘“That’s young
Retailleau’s cap,” someone said.
‘And Désiré, even though he
was drunk as a lord, frowned. He knew very well that he shouldn’t have found it
where he did.
‘“Are you sure,
Désiré, that it was near the dead poplar?”
‘“Why wouldn’t I be
sure?”
‘Well, inspector, the next day he
wouldn’t admit it. When you asked him where it was, he’d answer, “Over
there … I don’t know exactly, do I? Why don’t you give it a rest about
that cap?”’
Some flat-bottomed boats filled with milk
churns were moored next to the dairy.
‘Hey, Philippe. Has old
Désiré gone home?’
‘He can’t have gone home seeing
as he never set foot out of doors. He must have had a skinful last night because he
hasn’t done his round this morning.’
An idea occurred to Maigret.
‘Do you think the manager will be here
now?’ he asked his companion.
‘He should be in his office. The
little door on the side.’
‘Wait here a moment.’
Oscar Drouhet, the manager of the dairy, was
in fact making a telephone call as Maigret opened the door. He introduced himself. The
man had the serious, steady air of all rural artisans turned small manufacturers. Taking
small puffs on his pipe, he studied the inspector and let him speak as he sized him
up.
‘Albert
Retailleau’s father used to be on your staff, didn’t he? From what
I’ve been told he was the victim of a work accident …’
‘A boiler ring blew.’
‘I understand you pay the widow a
fairly high pension?’
The man was quick, realizing immediately
that it was a loaded question.
‘What do you mean?’
‘Did the widow take you to court or
did you set it up of your own accord?’
‘Don’t go looking for any
mystery in all this. It was my fault the accident happened. Retailleau had been telling
me for two months, more or less, that the boiler needed a complete overhaul, if not
replacing. As it was the height of the season, I kept putting it off.’
‘Your workers were insured?’
‘Inadequately.’
‘Sorry. May I ask whether it was you
who thought the sum inadequate or …?’
They had already understood each other so
well that Maigret left his sentence unfinished.
‘The widow put in a claim, as she was
entitled to,’ admitted Oscar Drouhet.
‘I am certain,’ continued the
inspector with a hint of a smile, ‘that she didn’t seek you out merely to
ask you to study the question of compensation. She sent lawyers …’
‘Is that so strange? A woman
isn’t an expert in these matters, is she? I recognized the validity of her claim
and, in addition to the pension paid by the insurance, I set upone
that I pay personally. I also paid for the son’s education and I took him on here
as soon as he was old enough to work. I got a lot out of it too, because he was an
honest, hardworking, clever lad, who could run the dairy while I was away
…’
‘Thank you … Or rather, one more
thing: since Albert’s death, you haven’t received a visit from his
mother?’
Drouhet managed not to smile, but a glint
passed through his brown eyes.
‘No,’ he said, ‘she
hasn’t come
yet
.’
So Maigret hadn’t been mistaken about
Madame Retailleau. She was a woman who knew how to defend herself, even go on the attack
if necessary, and who never lost
reeds,” he told me, “just by the dead poplar …”
‘As I said, at least six people were
there who heard him say that. Everyone round here knows that the dead poplar is between
the Nauds’ house and the place where Albert’s body was found …
‘This way … We’re going to
the dairy, you can see the chimney on the left …’
They had left the village. Dark hedges
surrounded small gardens. A little further on, the dairy came into view, a collection of
low buildings painted white and a tall chimney rising sheer into the sky.
‘I don’t know
why I thought of sticking the cap in my pocket. I already had the feeling too many
people wanted this business hushed up.
‘“That’s young
Retailleau’s cap,” someone said.
‘And Désiré, even though he
was drunk as a lord, frowned. He knew very well that he shouldn’t have found it
where he did.
‘“Are you sure,
Désiré, that it was near the dead poplar?”
‘“Why wouldn’t I be
sure?”
‘Well, inspector, the next day he
wouldn’t admit it. When you asked him where it was, he’d answer, “Over
there … I don’t know exactly, do I? Why don’t you give it a rest about
that cap?”’
Some flat-bottomed boats filled with milk
churns were moored next to the dairy.
‘Hey, Philippe. Has old
Désiré gone home?’
‘He can’t have gone home seeing
as he never set foot out of doors. He must have had a skinful last night because he
hasn’t done his round this morning.’
An idea occurred to Maigret.
‘Do you think the manager will be here
now?’ he asked his companion.
‘He should be in his office. The
little door on the side.’
‘Wait here a moment.’
Oscar Drouhet, the manager of the dairy, was
in fact making a telephone call as Maigret opened the door. He introduced himself. The
man had the serious, steady air of all rural artisans turned small manufacturers. Taking
small puffs on his pipe, he studied the inspector and let him speak as he sized him
up.
‘Albert
Retailleau’s father used to be on your staff, didn’t he? From what
I’ve been told he was the victim of a work accident …’
‘A boiler ring blew.’
‘I understand you pay the widow a
fairly high pension?’
The man was quick, realizing immediately
that it was a loaded question.
‘What do you mean?’
‘Did the widow take you to court or
did you set it up of your own accord?’
‘Don’t go looking for any
mystery in all this. It was my fault the accident happened. Retailleau had been telling
me for two months, more or less, that the boiler needed a complete overhaul, if not
replacing. As it was the height of the season, I kept putting it off.’
‘Your workers were insured?’
‘Inadequately.’
‘Sorry. May I ask whether it was you
who thought the sum inadequate or …?’
They had already understood each other so
well that Maigret left his sentence unfinished.
‘The widow put in a claim, as she was
entitled to,’ admitted Oscar Drouhet.
‘I am certain,’ continued the
inspector with a hint of a smile, ‘that she didn’t seek you out merely to
ask you to study the question of compensation. She sent lawyers …’
‘Is that so strange? A woman
isn’t an expert in these matters, is she? I recognized the validity of her claim
and, in addition to the pension paid by the insurance, I set upone
that I pay personally. I also paid for the son’s education and I took him on here
as soon as he was old enough to work. I got a lot out of it too, because he was an
honest, hardworking, clever lad, who could run the dairy while I was away
…’
‘Thank you … Or rather, one more
thing: since Albert’s death, you haven’t received a visit from his
mother?’
Drouhet managed not to smile, but a glint
passed through his brown eyes.
‘No,’ he said, ‘she
hasn’t come
yet
.’
So Maigret hadn’t been mistaken about
Madame Retailleau. She was a woman who knew how to defend herself, even go on the attack
if necessary, and who never lost
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