OU_214051 UNIVERSA - Osmania University

THE SAILORS' RENDEZVOUS 239
" A copper! Who has a copper coin? " cried a sailor who was
lardly as tall or as broad as a boy of sixteen. He had a grizzled head,
vith irregular features. Some of his teeth were missing. Drink had
nade his eyes shine, and he had a three days' growth of beard on
lis cheeks.
Someone gave him a copper. He bent it with his fingers, then put
It between his teeth and snapped it in two.
" Whose turn next? "
He was showing off. He felt that he had caught the general
attention, and was ready to do anything to hold it.
A bloated-looking engineer seized a coin, but he interrupted
him:
" Wait! Here's something else you must do."
He picked up an empty glass, took a big bite out of it and
chewed up the bits, with every sign of satisfaction.
" Ha! ha! You might be able to do that some day. . . . More
drinks, Leon! "
His glance roved round the room, like a second-rate actor's, and
stopped at Maigret. He frowned. For a moment he was taken aback.
Then he came forward, but he was so drunk that he had to support
himself on the table.
" Come for me? " he said with a swagger.
"Steady, P'tit Louis!"
" Still the business of the pocket-book? Listen, you guys! . . .
You wouldn't believe me just now when I told you those stories
about the Rue de Lappe. . . . Well, here's a big noise from the
police going out of his way just because of this baby. .. . Will you
let me have another drink? "
Now all eyes were on Maigret.
" Sit down here, P'tit Louis! Don't be a fool! "
But it was too much for P'tit Louis.
" You offer me a drink! No! It's not possible! What do you
think, boys? The inspector is offering me a drink! •.. A double
dram, Leon!"
" You were on the Ocean? "
This was another matter. P'tit Louis's face grew so dark that it
seemed as if his drunkenness had vanished. He withdrew a little,
defiantly, along the bench.
" So what? "
" Nothing. . . . Your health! . . . How long have you been on
the binge? "
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