OU_214051 UNIVERSA - Osmania University

A CRIME IN HOLLAND 195
Maigret was in no hurry. He walked quiedy up and down the
room, puffing away at his pipe, before saying:
" Look here, Barens my boy!... What was it the Baes was
talking to you about last night? "
The cadet turned his thin face this way and that, like a frightened
bird.
" I . . . I think ..."
" Good! Perhaps I'd better help you. . •. . You've got a father,
haven't you? Somewhere out in India, I think. ... It would be a
fearful blow to him if anything happened to you, if you got into
trouble in any way. ... I don't know what it might be, but, in a
case like this, perjury, for instance, would be a very serious offence.
... It would mean prison. ..."
Cornelius stood rigid now, not daring to move, not daring to
look at anybody, hardly daring to breathe.
" Oosting was waiting for you last night by the Amsterdiep. . . .
And now, confess that it was he who put you up to it, who told you
to tell the police what you've told them... . Come on! Out with it!
You never saw a tall thin man near the Popingas' house, did you? "
" I . .. I . .."
But he had not the strength to go on. He crumpled up, burst into
tears.
And Maigret looked first at Jean Duclos, then at Pijpekamp,
with that ponderous impenetrable stare which sometimes led people
to take him for a fool. For it was a stare that was so utterly stagnant
as to seem empty.
" You think . . . ? " began Pijpekamp.
" What can one think? Look at him! "
The contrast between Cor's unformed figure and the uniform
he was wearing made him appear almost childish. He was blowing
his nose and trying to hold back the sobs. At last he succeeded in
stammering:
" I haven't done anything. . . ."
No one spoke for a moment. All eyes were watching Cornelius
struggling to get control of himself.
" I never said you'd done anything," said Maigret at last.
" Oosting asked you to pretend you'd seen a stranger round the
house. ... I expect he told you that was the only way to save some
person.. .. Who? "
" I swear ... by all that's holy ... he didn't say who. . . I
don't know. I haven't the least idea. ... I wish I were dead."