OU_214051 UNIVERSA - Osmania University

A CRIME IN HOLLAND 215
" You can step down now, Monsieur Duclos."
Everyone rose, but then stood still, uncertain of what was
expected of them. All eyes were on Maigret. Any and Beetje,
though standing almost shoulder to shoulder, ignored each other's
presence. Wienands carried the youngest of the children.
" This way, please."
And as they started towards the door:
" We're going to walk to the house in the same order as last
week. .. . Madame Popinga and Monsieur Duclos. ..."
They looked awkwardly at each other, hesitated, then went
through the door together and out into the darkness.
" Next, Mademoiselle Beetje. . . . You w r ere walking with
Popinga. You follow the others. I'll be joining you in a moment."
She didn't like walking alone. She was still frightened of her
father, though he was in a far corner of the room with a policeman
standing over him.
" Monsieur and Madame Wienands. . . ."
They stepped off with less embarrassment than the others.
Having the children to look after made it easier.
" Mademoiselle Any and Barens. . . ."
The latter almost broke down. Biting his lips, however, he pulled
himself together, passed in front of Maigret, and went out with Any.
The inspector dien turned to the policeman who was standing
by Liewens.
" At this time, on the night of the crime, he was at home. . . ."
But the policeman looked at him blankly, and he had to call
Duclos back to act as interpreter.
" Tell him to take Liewens to the farm, and make him do exactly
what he did before."
Having said that, Maigret sent the professor back to his place
in the procession. If there'd been a hearse in front, it would have
been rather like a funeral procession, one, however, that was going
off badly. There were halts and hesitations, and the leading pair
kept glancing round to make sure they were being followed.
Madame Van Hasselt, standing in the hotel entrance, watched
them pass through, without ever stopping her conversation with
the billiard-players within.
All the shops were shut, in fact three-quarters of the town was
already in bed and asleep. Madame Popinga and the professor led
the way along the quay. Duclos was talking, and it wasn't hard to
guess that he was trying to reassure his companion.