OU_214051 UNIVERSA - Osmania University

98 MAINLY MAIGRET
" The police authorities are continuing their investigation of this
daring crime. Four days ago a cabaret dancer, Sylvie B., now residing
in Brussels, was questioned, and she was able to furnish some
useful information. It is now known that the murderer is a Turkish
subject, named Elias Nagear, and that this young woman was his
mistress. So far, however, all efforts to trace him have been unavailing.
The police theory is that Nagear crossed the frontier into
Germany before the crime was discovered. The young woman,
Sylvie B., has been admitted to bail."
Quite calmly Elie tore off this portion of the page and laid it on
the table. His eyes were sparkling. He lit a cigarette and took long,
luxurious puffs at it. As he did so, he listened to the noises in the
house with growing impatience. The moment Madame Baron
appeared in the doorway, her hands behind her back as she knotted
her apron-strings, he jumped up and almost shouted at her:
" Well? What did I tell you? "
His voice was shrill with triumph. He thrust the piece he had torn
from the paper into her hand.
"Read this." And he couldn't help chuckling: "So they're
looking for me now in Germany! Isn't it priceless! "
She ran her eyes over the article and, without thinking, handed
it back to him; after which, though there was no need to do so,
she poked the fire vigorously.
" So it's only a matter of a few days, and then, as I told you,
I shall..."
" Oh, keep quiet! " she exclaimed irritably. That reference to her
daughter as the young man's " mistress " was rankling in her mind.
"But it's such good news!" he insisted. "Now that they're
looking for me in another country ..."
" For heaven's sake shut your mouth! And go back to your
room. I don't want you here."
" Oh, if you take it that way...."
Tears were streaming down her cheeks as she went about her
cooking. But she wept silently, after the manner of women no
longer young. "The young woman was his mistress!" What
would the neighbours think?—for they were sure to guess that
" Sylvie B," stood for Sylvie Baron. And what would her husband
say when he found out?
Antoinette came in and stared at her mother in amazement.
" What's wrong, Ma? "