OU_214051 UNIVERSA - Osmania University

256 MAINLY MAIGRET
unloaded, and her sullen crew talking in phrases full of hidden
meaning.
He kissed Madame Maigret on the forehead and bowed to the
girl, answering her inquiring eyes with a " Nothing special."
His wife said in a placid voice:
" Mademoiselle Leonnec has told me her whole story. Do you
think the boy is capable of doing such a thing? "
They went slowly back to the hotel, Maigret carrying the two
folded deck-chairs. Just as they were sitting down at table a policeman
in uniform came up looking for the inspector.
" I was told to show you this. It came in an hour ago. ..."
And he held out a yellow envelope which had been opened and
had no address. Inside was a sheet of paper with cramped, precise
handwriting:
No one is to be accused of my death, and do not seek to understand
my action.
These are my last wishes. I leave all that I possess to the widow
Bernard who has always been good to me, and I charge her to send
my gold chronometer to my nephew and to see that I am buried
in the cemetery at Fecamp beside my mother. . . .
Maigret opened his eyes wide.
" It's signed Octave Fallut," he said softly. " How did this letter
come to the police station? "
" We don't know. It was found in the letter-box. The signature
seems to be quite genuine. The superintendent immediately
informed the public prosecutor. ..."
" But that doesn't alter the fact that he was strangled! And that
it is impossible to strangle yourself!" growled Maigret.
Beside them the table d'hote was clamouring to be eaten. There
were red radishes on a dish.
" Wait a moment while I copy this letter. Because I expect you
ought to take it back? "
" I haven't any special instructions, but I suppose . . ."
" Yes, it ought to be kept in the dossier."
A little later, Maigret, his copy in his hand, looked impatiently
round the dining-room where he would have to waste an hour
waiting for die various dishes. All this time Marie Leonnec hadn't
taken her eyes off his face, but she had not dared to interrupt his
sulky meditation. Only Madame Maigret, confronted with pale veal
cutlets, sighed: