OU_214051 UNIVERSA - Osmania University

THE SAILORS' RENDEZVOUS 241
But the sailor went off without answering, and sat down at
another table, where he continued to stare fixedly at the two men.
The atmosphere was heavy and salt-laden. You could hear the
voices of the summer visitors, playing dominoes in the next room,
where it was cleaner and airier.
" Much cod? " asked Maigret, who followed up an idea with the
relentlessness of an electric drill.
" Filth! It arrived half-rotten."
" Why was that? "
" Not salted enough.... Or too much! . .. What muck! Not a
third of the men will sail next week. . . ."
"You're off again?"
" Parbleu! What are engines for? Sailing-ships make only one
trip, from February to September. But trawlers have time to go
twice to the Banks."
" Will you go back? "
P'tit Louis spat on the ground and shrugged wearily.
" I'd sooner go to Fresnes. ... A lousy business! . . ."
" The captain?"
" I've nothing to say."
He had picked up the butt-end of a cigar and lit it. Suddenly he
rushed into the street, where they saw him vomiting, standing on
the edge of the pavement, where the Breton joined him.
" Poor devil! " sighed the proprietor. " The day before yesterday
he had nearly a thousand francs in his pocket. Today it's a near
thing if he doesn't owe me money. Oysters and lobster! Without
reckoning that he pays for drinks for everyone as if he didn't know
what to do with his money."
" You knew the radio operator on the Ocian} "
" He lodged here. Look! He used to feed at that table, then he
would go and write in the other room to have more peace."
" Whom did he write to? "
" It wasn't only letters. Poetry or novels, as you might say.
He was an educated, well-mannered boy. Now that I know you're
from the police I can tell you they've made a great mistake."
" It doesn't alter die fact that the captain was killed! "
A shrug of the shoulders. The proprietor sat down in front of
Maigret. P'tit Louis came in, made for the counter and ordered a
drink. And his companion went on urging him in Breton to keep
quiet.
" You mustn't pay any attention. Once they're ashore they're