OU_214051 UNIVERSA - Osmania University

224 MAINLY MAIGRET
" I don't think she was," said the professor at last, " When he
was alone in the house with her, he'd come and fool about with her
in the kitchen—put an arm round her waist, kiss her, and that sort
of thing. Once he went into her room when she was dressing. He
used to give her chocolate surreptitiously. . . . But, as far as I can
make out, it went no further than that.,.."
" She can go back to bed."
They listened to the girl's retreating footsteps as she climbed the
stairs. Instead of their ceasing on the second floor there was a constant
noise as she went hither and thither in her room, apparently
moving things about. Turning to Any, Maigret said :
" Will you kindly go and see what she's doing? "
It wasn't long before Any reported:
" She says she's leaving the house at once. She won't stay a
minute longer, as she could never look my sister in the face again.
She'll go to Groningen or somewhere and never come back to
Delfzijl again."
And in an aggressive tone Any added :
" I suppose that's what you wanted! "
The evening was dragging on. It was getting late. A voice from
the loud-speaker announced the end of the programme :
Notre audition est terminee. Bonsoir, mesdames; honsoir, mesdemoiselles;
bonsoir, messieurs....
Sudden silence. Then, dimly through the silence, faint music from
another station. Suddenly it grew louder.
With a curt movement Maigret switched off, and the silence was
now complete, an almost piercing silence. Beetje was no longer
sobbing, but her face was still buried in her hands.
" I suppose the conversation went on? " asked Maigret, his voice
sounding tired.
No one answered. Every face showed the strain.
" I must apologize for this painful evening . . ." said Maigret,
turning towards Madame Popinga. " But don't forget that your
husband was still alive.... He was here in this room talking and
laughing. . .. Perhaps he'd had a second glass of cognac? "
" Yes."
" And he was a condemned man—do you understand that? . . .
Condemned by someone who was watching him. . . . And others
who are here at this moment are holding back what they know, and
are thus making themselves accomplices. ..."
Barens hiccupped. He was trembling.