OU_214051 UNIVERSA - Osmania University
OU_214051 UNIVERSA - Osmania University OU_214051 UNIVERSA - Osmania University
142 MAINLY MAIGRET one hand to his chest. ... I think he wanted to speak. . . . But the moment I tried to lift him he stiffened in my arms. ... He was dead, shot through the heart." " Is that all you know? " " We telephoned to the gendarmerie and to the doctor. We called Wienands, who came over to help us. ... I was conscious of a certain embarrassment in the air, and I suddenly realized I had been seen holding the revolver. The police called my attention to the fact and asked me to explain it. They politely asked me to hold myself at their disposal/' " That's six days ago, isn't it? " " Yes. Since then I've been working on the problem. It certainly is one! . . . Look at these papers.... All the same, I feel I'm making progress." Maigret knocked out his pipe without so much as glancing at the papers in question. " You're confined to the hotel? " " As a matter of fact, I'd rather it was left like that. I wish to avoid any possible incident. Popinga was very popular with his pupils, and it's impossible to go out without running into them at every corner." " They haven't found any clues? " " Precious few. But Any brings me any information she thinks might be helpful. She is working on the case too, and has hopes of clearing it up, though to my mind she doesn't go about it quite methodically enough. . . . She told me that the bath is provided with a sort of wooden lid which, when down, serves as an ironingboard. And the day after the crime, on raising this lid, a cap was found lying in the bath, a peak cap such as all the sailor folk wear round here. It had never been seen in the house before. . . . A careful examination of the ground floor, moreover, had brought to light a cigar-end on the dining-room carpet. It was of very dark tobacco—Manila, I think. Nobody wh6 had been in the house that night was in the habit of smoking such a thing. As for me, I never smoke at all... . And this is the interesting thing—the diningroom had been swept directly after dinner. ..." " From which you conclude? " " Nothing," answered Jean Duclos dryly. " I'll come to my conclusions in due course. I must apologize for having brought you on so long a journey. But I must confess I am surprised they should have sent someone who doesn't speak Dutch.. •. Really I think
A CRIME IN HOLLAND 143 there's not likely to be anything for you to do, unless they take any action against me that necessitates an official protest." Maigret ran his finger up and down his nose, smiling a smile that was nothing short of delicious. " Are you married, Monsieur Duclos? " " No." " And until you came here the other day you had never met the Popingas, Any, nor anybody else here? " " We were quite unknown to each other, though of course they knew me by reputation." " Of course. . . . Of course. . . ." And Maigret picked up the duplicate plans that were lying on the table, stuffed them in his pocket, touched the brim of his hat, and wandered out. • The police station was a modern building, well lit, clean, and comfortable. They were expecting Maigret. The station-master had informed them of his arrival, and they were astonished that he had not yet shown up. He strode in as though he belonged to the place, taking off his light overcoat and throwing it and his hat on to one of the chairs. The detective who had been sent over from Groningen to take charge of the case, spoke French slowly and just a little pedantically. He was tall, fair and lean, extremely cordial, nodding as he spoke, in a way which meant: " You understand, don't you? . . . I'm sure we agree. . . ." Though in point of fact it was Maigret who did the talking to start with. " Since you've been here six days," he said, " you've probably checked all the times? ..." " What times? " " It would be interesting to know, for instance, just how many minutes it took Conrad Popinga to see Mademoiselle Beetje home and return to the house. And then there's another thing. I would like to know die exact time Mademoiselle Beetje went indoors. . . . And also at what time young Cor went over the gangway of the training-ship—I expect there was a man on watch who would be able to tell you." The Dutchman looked embarrassed. He got up suddenly as
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- Page 130 and 131: n8 MAINLY MAIGRET " Move on! Didn't
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- Page 145 and 146: A CRIME IN HOLLAND 131 word " farm
- Page 147 and 148: A CRIME IN HOLLAND 133 And in among
- Page 149 and 150: A CRIME IN HOLLAND 135 was there to
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- Page 159 and 160: A CRIME IN HOLLAND 145 rather, who
- Page 161 and 162: A CRIME IN HOLLAND 147 fiddled with
- Page 163 and 164: A CRIME IN HOLLAND 149 beyond that
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- Page 179 and 180: A CRIME IN HOLLAND I65 " Get along
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A CRIME IN HOLLAND 143<br />
there's not likely to be anything for you to do, unless they take any<br />
action against me that necessitates an official protest."<br />
Maigret ran his finger up and down his nose, smiling a smile<br />
that was nothing short of delicious.<br />
" Are you married, Monsieur Duclos? "<br />
" No."<br />
" And until you came here the other day you had never met the<br />
Popingas, Any, nor anybody else here? "<br />
" We were quite unknown to each other, though of course they<br />
knew me by reputation."<br />
" Of course. . . . Of course. . . ."<br />
And Maigret picked up the duplicate plans that were lying on<br />
the table, stuffed them in his pocket, touched the brim of his hat,<br />
and wandered out.<br />
•<br />
The police station was a modern building, well lit, clean, and<br />
comfortable. They were expecting Maigret. The station-master had<br />
informed them of his arrival, and they were astonished that he<br />
had not yet shown up.<br />
He strode in as though he belonged to the place, taking off his<br />
light overcoat and throwing it and his hat on to one of the chairs.<br />
The detective who had been sent over from Groningen to take<br />
charge of the case, spoke French slowly and just a little pedantically.<br />
He was tall, fair and lean, extremely cordial, nodding as he spoke,<br />
in a way which meant:<br />
" You understand, don't you? . . . I'm sure we agree. . . ."<br />
Though in point of fact it was Maigret who did the talking to<br />
start with.<br />
" Since you've been here six days," he said, " you've probably<br />
checked all the times? ..."<br />
" What times? "<br />
" It would be interesting to know, for instance, just how many<br />
minutes it took Conrad Popinga to see Mademoiselle Beetje home<br />
and return to the house. And then there's another thing. I would<br />
like to know die exact time Mademoiselle Beetje went indoors. . . .<br />
And also at what time young Cor went over the gangway of the<br />
training-ship—I expect there was a man on watch who would be<br />
able to tell you."<br />
The Dutchman looked embarrassed. He got up suddenly as