OU_214051 UNIVERSA - Osmania University

A CRIME IN HOLLAND *75
" Nothing at all. The Jew who has that chandler's shop there
gets half his stuff that way."
" So where does that bring us to? "
The Dutchman looked the other way. He seemed embarrassed.
" I told you that Beetje Liewens did not go straight indoors, but
followed Popinga back.... Am I making myself clear? You must
tell me when I make mistakes. . .."
" Yes, yes. ... Go on. . . ."
" Though of course that doesn't necessarily mean she fired the
shot "
"Ah!"
Pijpekamp was certainly very far from being at ease. He drew
Maigret still further on, to a part of the quay that was deserted.
Then, lowering his voice, he went on:
" You know that pile of timber, don't you? . . . The timmerman
-—I suppose you'd call him a carpenter . . . well . . . the carpenter
says he had already seen Beetje and Monsieur Popinga that evening
. . . together. ..."
" Having a kiss in the dark, I suppose? "
" Yes . . . and it seems to me . . ."
" What? "
" If one person saw them, others might. . . . That young man
from the training-ship, for instance—Cornelius Barens. He wants
to marry Beetje. We found a photograph of her amongst his
kit "
" Really? "
" And then Liewens . . . Beetje's father. . . . He's a very influential
man, who does cattle-breeding in a big way, exporting even as
far as Australia. He is a widower, and she is his only child. ..."
" So he might have killed Popinga? "
The Dutchman was so ill at ease that Maigret almost took pity
on him. It obviously cost the man a colossal effort to harbour any
suspicions against such an influential man, who could export cattle
all the way to Australia.
" If he saw them . . . mightn't he have .. , ? "
But Maigret was merciless.
"If he'd seen what?"
" Seen them by the pile of timber ... Beetje and Popinga"
"Ah Usee...."
" Of course this is absolutely confidential."
" Naturally And Barens? "