A waiter approached.
âThe cashier would like to know how many calls you made.â
âDamn!â
He noticed a smile on Jamesâs lips and said crossly:
âCongratulations!â
âYou reckon?â
âHow long did it take you to hatch this little scheme?â
âIt was pretty much off the cuff. Waiter, two Pernods! And some cigarettes!â
âWhat did he say to you? What did he want?â
James leaned back in his chair and merely sighed, as if he couldnât see the point of this conversation.
âMoney? And where did he get hold of that suit he was wearing?â
âHe canât be expected to walk round Paris in white flannels!â
That was indeed what Basso was wearing when he ran away at Seine-Port station. James forgot nothing.
âHave you contacted him prior to today?â
âHe contacted me!â
âAnd you have nothing to say?â
âYouâd do the same as me. Iâve been a guest at his house hundreds of times. Heâs never done me any harm!â
âDid he want money?â
âHeâs been watching us for half an hour. I thought I saw him yesterday across the road. He just didnât dare come over.â
âSo you had me summoned to the phone.â
âHe seemed tired.â
âDid he say anything?â
âItâs weird how different clothes can change a man â¦â James sighed, evading the question.
Maigret observed him out of the corner of his eye.
âAre you aware that, by rights, you could be arrested for aiding and abetting?â
âThere are lots of things you can do by rights. But rights arenât always right.â
He was clowning around as usual.
âWaiter, where are those Pernods?â
âComing!â
âAre you coming down to Morsang? Because if you are, we may as well get a taxi. Itâs only a hundred francs, and the train costs â¦â
âWhat about your wife?â
âShe always comes by taxi, with her sister and her friends. Five of them, that works out at twenty francs a head, whereas the train costs â¦â
âOK.â
âComing or not?â
âIâm coming. Waiter, how much is that?â
âExcuse me. Separate bills, as usual.â
It was a matter of principle. Maigret paid for his own drinks, James for his. He added ten francs for the âphone callâ.
In the taxi, James appeared preoccupied. When they reached Villejuif, he revealed what was on his mind:
âI wonder where weâll be playing bridge tomorrow afternoon.â
It was time for the storm. The first drops of rain began to streak the windscreen.
5. The Doctorâs Car
They might have expected to find a different atmosphere at Morsang. It had only been the previous Sunday that the events had taken place. One of the group was now dead, another was a wanted murderer.
Nevertheless, when James and Maigret arrived, they found a group of people standing around a new car, admiring it. They had exchanged their weekday clothes for their sports gear. Only the doctor was still dressed in a suit.
It was his car, and he was giving it its first outing. Everyone was asking questions, and he was extolling its special features.
âYes, it does guzzle more gas, but â¦â
Almost everyone had a car. The doctorâs was brand new.
âThe engine purrs, just listen to this â¦â
His wife was sitting contentedly inside the car, happy to let the confab take its course. Doctor Mertens was about thirty, skinny as a rake, as limp-wristed as a sickly young girl.
âIs that your new car?â James asked, bursting into the conversation.
He strode around it, muttering to himself inaudibly.
âI wouldnât mind taking it for a spin tomorrow. Is that all right with you?â
One would have thought that Maigretâs presence woulddisturb them. They hardly noticed he was there! They all felt so at home at the inn, they
âThe cashier would like to know how many calls you made.â
âDamn!â
He noticed a smile on Jamesâs lips and said crossly:
âCongratulations!â
âYou reckon?â
âHow long did it take you to hatch this little scheme?â
âIt was pretty much off the cuff. Waiter, two Pernods! And some cigarettes!â
âWhat did he say to you? What did he want?â
James leaned back in his chair and merely sighed, as if he couldnât see the point of this conversation.
âMoney? And where did he get hold of that suit he was wearing?â
âHe canât be expected to walk round Paris in white flannels!â
That was indeed what Basso was wearing when he ran away at Seine-Port station. James forgot nothing.
âHave you contacted him prior to today?â
âHe contacted me!â
âAnd you have nothing to say?â
âYouâd do the same as me. Iâve been a guest at his house hundreds of times. Heâs never done me any harm!â
âDid he want money?â
âHeâs been watching us for half an hour. I thought I saw him yesterday across the road. He just didnât dare come over.â
âSo you had me summoned to the phone.â
âHe seemed tired.â
âDid he say anything?â
âItâs weird how different clothes can change a man â¦â James sighed, evading the question.
Maigret observed him out of the corner of his eye.
âAre you aware that, by rights, you could be arrested for aiding and abetting?â
âThere are lots of things you can do by rights. But rights arenât always right.â
He was clowning around as usual.
âWaiter, where are those Pernods?â
âComing!â
âAre you coming down to Morsang? Because if you are, we may as well get a taxi. Itâs only a hundred francs, and the train costs â¦â
âWhat about your wife?â
âShe always comes by taxi, with her sister and her friends. Five of them, that works out at twenty francs a head, whereas the train costs â¦â
âOK.â
âComing or not?â
âIâm coming. Waiter, how much is that?â
âExcuse me. Separate bills, as usual.â
It was a matter of principle. Maigret paid for his own drinks, James for his. He added ten francs for the âphone callâ.
In the taxi, James appeared preoccupied. When they reached Villejuif, he revealed what was on his mind:
âI wonder where weâll be playing bridge tomorrow afternoon.â
It was time for the storm. The first drops of rain began to streak the windscreen.
5. The Doctorâs Car
They might have expected to find a different atmosphere at Morsang. It had only been the previous Sunday that the events had taken place. One of the group was now dead, another was a wanted murderer.
Nevertheless, when James and Maigret arrived, they found a group of people standing around a new car, admiring it. They had exchanged their weekday clothes for their sports gear. Only the doctor was still dressed in a suit.
It was his car, and he was giving it its first outing. Everyone was asking questions, and he was extolling its special features.
âYes, it does guzzle more gas, but â¦â
Almost everyone had a car. The doctorâs was brand new.
âThe engine purrs, just listen to this â¦â
His wife was sitting contentedly inside the car, happy to let the confab take its course. Doctor Mertens was about thirty, skinny as a rake, as limp-wristed as a sickly young girl.
âIs that your new car?â James asked, bursting into the conversation.
He strode around it, muttering to himself inaudibly.
âI wouldnât mind taking it for a spin tomorrow. Is that all right with you?â
One would have thought that Maigretâs presence woulddisturb them. They hardly noticed he was there! They all felt so at home at the inn, they
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