OU_214051 UNIVERSA - Osmania University

252 MAINLY MAIGRET
Near the trucks was a man in leather gaiters and a braided
cap.
" Is that the owner? " Maigret asked a customs man who was
passing.
" Yes—that's the director of La Morue Franpaise. .. ."
The inspector introduced himself. The director gave him a
suspicious look without interrupting his work of overseeing the
unloading.
" What do you think about the murder of your captain? "
" What do I think? I think that here's eight hundred tons of
damaged cod. And that if it goes on like this, the boat won't make
a second trip. And it's not the police who settle up these matters or
meet the deficit! "
" You had complete trust in Fallut, then? "
"Yes!... What next?"
" You think it was the operator? . . ."
" Operator or not, it's a wasted year. Not to mention the state the
nets were in when they brought them back! Nets that cost two
million francs, d'you hear? Torn as if they'd amused themselves
fishing from the rocks. . . . And on top of that, a crew that talks
about the evil eye. ... Hi! down there. . . . What the hell are you
doing? . . . Did I say, yes or no, that this truck was to be loaded
before anything else? ..."
And he began running along the boat, fulminating against the
whole world.
Maigret stayed a few minutes watching the unloading. Then he
went off in the direction of the jetty, among the fishers in their
blouses of rust-coloured sailcloth.
Before long he heard a voice behind him:
" Sst! Sst! . . . Inspector! Inspector! "
It was Leon, the proprietor of the Rende^Vous des Terre-Neuvas,
who was trying to catch up with him as fast as his little legs would
carry him.
" Come and have something on the house. . . ."
He wore a mysterious look, which seemed to promise all manner
of things. On the way he explained.
" Things are quieting down! Those who haven't gone home to
Brittany or their own villages have spent nearly all their money. . ..
This morning I'd only some mackerel fishers...."
They crossed the quay and entered the cafe, which was empty,
except for the barmaid who was wiping the tables.