OU_214051 UNIVERSA - Osmania University
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OU_214051 UNIVERSA - Osmania University

OU_214051 UNIVERSA - Osmania University OU_214051 UNIVERSA - Osmania University

oudl.osmania.ac.in
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26.12.2012 Views

192 MAINLY MAIGRET somebody who served under him, and who had an old score to pay off." Jean Duclos looked woodenly at the opposite wall, avoiding Maigret's eye. Madame Van Hasselt, in her best clothes, was sitting at the cash-desk. Pijpekamp made a sign to her to bring another bottle. The meal was not over. On the contrary, its crowning triumph was only now brought on, a cake garnished with three different sorts of creams, the final touch being given by the name of Delfzijl in chocolate letters. The Dutchman modestly lowered his eyes. " Perhaps you would like to cut it...." " Did you arrest Cor? " Pijpekamp started, staring at Maigret as though the latter was taking leave of his senses. " But... What for? ..." " If you've no objection, we might question him together presently." " It can easily be arranged. I'll telephone to the training-ship." " And while you're about it, you might also arrange for Oosting to be brought along. We'll have some questions for him too." " About the cap? .. . That's easily explained now. A sailor, passing his boat, saw the cap lying on the deck. It wouldn't take him a second to pinch it." " Of course not. . .." Pijpekamp could have wept. Maigret's sarcasm, though it wasn't laid on thick, was unmistakable. In his agitation, Pijpekamp bumped into the side of the doorway as he went into the telephone box. The inspector was left alone with Jean Duclos, whose eyes were flow glued on his plate. " While you were about it, you might have told him to slip a few florins discreetly into my hand." The words were spoken quite gently, without any bitterness at all. Duclos raised his head, and opened his mouth to protest. " Come, come! ... We've no time to argue about it.. .. You told him to give me a good dinner and plenty to drink with it. You told him that was the way to get round officials in France ... Please don't interrupt me.... And that after that he could do just as he liked with me." " I assure you ..." But Maigret, lighting his pipe, turned round towards Pijpekamp,

A CRIME IN HOLLAND I93 who was returning from the telephone box. Looking at the table, the latter stammered: " You won't refuse a little glass of cognac, will you? They've some good stuff here." " If you don't mind, it's my turn now," said Maigret, in a tone that tolerated no opposition. " Only, as I don't speak Dutch, I must ask you to order it for me. A bottle of cognac and some glasses." Pijpekamp meekly interpreted: " But those glasses won't do," went on Maigret as Madame Van Hasselt came bustling up. And he got up and went himself to fetch some bigger ones. Placing them on the table, he filled them right up to the rim. " A toast for you, gentlemen," he said gravely. " The Dutch police! ..." The stuff was so strong it brought tears to Pijpekamp's eyes. But Maigret, with a smile on his face, gave no quarter. Again and again he raised his glass, repeating: " Your health, Monsieur Pijpekamp!... To the Dutch police! ..." And then he added: " At what time are you expecting Cor at the police station? " " In half an hour's time... . May I offer you a cigar? " " Thanks, I'd rather smoke my pipe." Once more Maigret filled up the diree glasses, doing it with such authority that neither Pijpekamp nor Duclos dared say a word. " It's a lovely day," he said two or three times over. " I may be greatly mistaken, but somehow I've got the impression that before the day is out poor Popinga's murderer will be under lock and key." " Unless he's steaming across the Baltic," answered Pijpekamp. " Oh! Go on! . .. You don't think he'd be as far as all that? " Duclos turned a pale face on the inspector. " Is that an insinuation? " he asked acidly. " What should I be insinuating? " " You seem to suggest that, if he isn't far, he might be very close indeed." " What an imagination you have, Professor! " It might easily have degenerated into a quarrel. Perhaps the large glasses of brandy had something to do with it. Pijpekamp was scarlet, his eyes glistening.

192 MAINLY MAIGRET<br />

somebody who served under him, and who had an old score to<br />

pay off."<br />

Jean Duclos looked woodenly at the opposite wall, avoiding<br />

Maigret's eye. Madame Van Hasselt, in her best clothes, was sitting<br />

at the cash-desk. Pijpekamp made a sign to her to bring another<br />

bottle.<br />

The meal was not over. On the contrary, its crowning triumph<br />

was only now brought on, a cake garnished with three different<br />

sorts of creams, the final touch being given by the name of Delfzijl<br />

in chocolate letters.<br />

The Dutchman modestly lowered his eyes.<br />

" Perhaps you would like to cut it...."<br />

" Did you arrest Cor? "<br />

Pijpekamp started, staring at Maigret as though the latter was<br />

taking leave of his senses.<br />

" But... What for? ..."<br />

" If you've no objection, we might question him together<br />

presently."<br />

" It can easily be arranged. I'll telephone to the training-ship."<br />

" And while you're about it, you might also arrange for Oosting<br />

to be brought along. We'll have some questions for him too."<br />

" About the cap? .. . That's easily explained now. A sailor,<br />

passing his boat, saw the cap lying on the deck. It wouldn't take<br />

him a second to pinch it."<br />

" Of course not. . .."<br />

Pijpekamp could have wept. Maigret's sarcasm, though it wasn't<br />

laid on thick, was unmistakable. In his agitation, Pijpekamp bumped<br />

into the side of the doorway as he went into the telephone box.<br />

The inspector was left alone with Jean Duclos, whose eyes were<br />

flow glued on his plate.<br />

" While you were about it, you might have told him to slip a<br />

few florins discreetly into my hand."<br />

The words were spoken quite gently, without any bitterness at<br />

all. Duclos raised his head, and opened his mouth to protest.<br />

" Come, come! ... We've no time to argue about it.. .. You<br />

told him to give me a good dinner and plenty to drink with it. You<br />

told him that was the way to get round officials in France ... Please<br />

don't interrupt me.... And that after that he could do just as he<br />

liked with me."<br />

" I assure you ..."<br />

But Maigret, lighting his pipe, turned round towards Pijpekamp,

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