The Two-Penny Bar by Georges Simenon

A waiter approached.
    â€˜The cashier would like to know how many calls you made.’
    â€˜Damn!’
    He noticed a smile on James’s lips and said crossly:
    â€˜Congratulations!’
    â€˜You reckon?’
    â€˜How long did it take you to hatch this little scheme?’
    â€˜It was pretty much off the cuff. Waiter, two Pernods! And some cigarettes!’
    â€˜What did he say to you? What did he want?’
    James leaned back in his chair and merely sighed, as if he couldn’t see the point of this conversation.
    â€˜Money? And where did he get hold of that suit he was wearing?’
    â€˜He can’t be expected to walk round Paris in white flannels!’
    That was indeed what Basso was wearing when he ran away at Seine-Port station. James forgot nothing.
    â€˜Have you contacted him prior to today?’
    â€˜He contacted me!’
    â€˜And you have nothing to say?’
    â€˜You’d do the same as me. I’ve been a guest at his house hundreds of times. He’s never done me any harm!’
    â€˜Did he want money?’
    â€˜He’s been watching us for half an hour. I thought I saw him yesterday across the road. He just didn’t dare come over.’
    â€˜So you had me summoned to the phone.’
    â€˜He seemed tired.’
    â€˜Did he say anything?’
    â€˜It’s weird how different clothes can change a man …’ James sighed, evading the question.
    Maigret observed him out of the corner of his eye.
    â€˜Are you aware that, by rights, you could be arrested for aiding and abetting?’
    â€˜There are lots of things you can do by rights. But rights aren’t always right.’
    He was clowning around as usual.
    â€˜Waiter, where are those Pernods?’
    â€˜Coming!’
    â€˜Are you coming down to Morsang? Because if you are, we may as well get a taxi. It’s only a hundred francs, and the train costs …’
    â€˜What about your wife?’
    â€˜She 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€˜OK.’
    â€˜Coming or not?’
    â€˜I’m coming. Waiter, how much is that?’
    â€˜Excuse me. Separate bills, as usual.’
    It was a matter of principle. Maigret paid for his own drinks, James for his. He added ten francs for the ‘phone call’.
    In the taxi, James appeared preoccupied. When they reached Villejuif, he revealed what was on his mind:
    â€˜I wonder where we’ll be playing bridge tomorrow afternoon.’
    It was time for the storm. The first drops of rain began to streak the windscreen.

5. The Doctor’s 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.
    â€˜Yes, it does guzzle more gas, but …’
    Almost everyone had a car. The doctor’s was brand new.
    â€˜The engine purrs, just listen to this …’
    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.
    â€˜Is that your new car?’ James asked, bursting into the conversation.
    He strode around it, muttering to himself inaudibly.
    â€˜I wouldn’t mind taking it for a spin tomorrow. Is that all right with you?’
    One would have thought that Maigret’s presence woulddisturb them. They hardly noticed he was there! They all felt so at home at the inn, they