OU_214051 UNIVERSA - Osmania University

172 MAINLY MAIGRET
" As for Corn&ius Barens, I consider him as one of the family,
and if I am not mistaken, he belongs to the Van Elst side of it,
" The characters in this case range themselves naturally into rival
teams, so to speak.... On the one hand, Madame Popinga, her
sister Any, and Cornelius. On the other Popinga, Oosting, and
Beetje.
" Think it over, and perhaps you may even come to some useful
conclusions."
" One question ..." said Maigret gravely.
"Yes?"
" You're a Protestant, too, I think? "
" I certainly belong to the Reformed Church, though not to the
same branch as Madame Popinga."
" Which side of the barrier are you on? "
" I didn't care for Popinga! "
" So you ... ? "
" I deplore the crime, regardless of the victim."
" He played jazz and danced, didn't he, while you were talking
to the ladies? "
" Yes, that was characteristic of him, though I didn't take it as
a personal affront."
Maigret was magisterially serious as he got up, saying :
" All in all, whom would you advise me to arrest? "
The professor bridled.
*' I didn't speak of arresting anybody, I have simply given you
certain guiding lines. We have been dealing with generalities."
" Admittedly But in my place ... ? "
" I am not a member of the police! I pursue truth for truth's sake,
and the fact that I have come under suspicion myself doesn't affect
my judgment in the slightest."
" So I oughtn't to arrest anybody? "
" I didn't say that either.... I. .."
" Thank you," said Maigret, offering his hand.
He wanted to pay for his Bols, and to call attention he struck his
glass with a coin. Duclos looked at him disapprovingly.
" That's not done here," he murmured." At least, not if you wish
to pass for a gentleman."
They were closing down the trap-door, through which the
barrels of beer had been lowered into the cellar. The inspector paid,
and throwing a last look at the plans, he said:
" So it comes to this: either it's you, or all the family."