OU_214051 UNIVERSA - Osmania University

9* MAINLY MAIGRET
ing? They were talking in the papers of the difference between
French and Belgian law* Well, suppose someone who's being
proceeded against in Belgium by the French police commits a crime
in Brussels, or some other Belgian town ... ? "
He paused; the only sound to fill the silence was the clatter of
knives and forks on plates—and for some reason it had a sinister
effect, like the sound of a distant tocsin.
" You don't follow? What I mean is, that a man who's liable to
the death-penalty in France might happen to commit a crime in
Belgium. In that case, it seems to follow that he should first be tried
in Belgium, if it's in that country he's arrested. And it also follows,
doesn't it, that he would serve his sentence in this country? "
His face was pale. His lips had an odd twist—but at a stretch it
might have passed for a smile. And he looked genuinely pleased
when he saw that Antoinette was smiling.
Moise straightened his back and looked him in the face.
" Would you be good enough to change the subject? "
He didn't dare to persist, and turned his eyes away, but there
was still a flicker of some curious emotion in the pupils.
The table was cleared more quickly than usual. Domb was the
first to leave; then Valesco went to his bedroom. Madame Baron
was starting to go up the stairs when Moise, putting on his student's
cap, walked past her on his way to the front door.
" Monsieur Moise! " she called.
" Yes? All right, I'm coming."
They talked in whispers on the landing, and Elie, left to himself
in the kitchen, strained his ears in vain to catch what was being said.
No sooner had Madame Baron and her daughter left the house than
Moise, instead of settling to work in his room, brought his manuals
and exercise-books to the kitchen.
Without a word he seated himself in the armchair, Elie's usual
place when Baron was out, and started jotting down rows of figures.
Elie put some coal on the fire, pokecf it noisily, then drew up a
chair beside it. Smiling, he said:
" You've been told to keep an eye on me. Are they afraid I
may steal something? "
Moise pretended not to hear.
" I'm not so dense as I may seem; I know you want to see the
last of me. But you won't have to wait much longer. Once the
police have lost interest in me I'll be off—and you can have your
harem to yourself!"