OU_214051 UNIVERSA - Osmania University

260 MAINLY MAIGRET
And Maigret held out the portrait whose head had disappeared
under the red-ink scribbles. But he held his thumb on the head.
Only the satin corsage was visible.
Laberge cast a swift look at him and could hardly refrain from
snatching the piece of cardboard.
" You recognize her? "
" How do you expect me to recognize her? "
And he again held out his hand, while Maigret put the portrait
back in his pocket.
" You're coming to Fecamp tomorrow?"
" I don't know.... You want me? "
" No. I was just asking. Thank you for the information you
were so good as to give me."
" I haven't given you any information."
Maigret had not gone ten steps when the door was kicked shut
and the voices inside the house took up the quarrel again more
fiercely than ever.
•
The chief engineer had told the truth: there wasn't anodier train
back to Fecamp before eight in the evening, and Maigret, with
nothing to do, was hopelessly stranded on die beach, where he
established himself on the hotel terrace.
It had the commonplace atmosphere of holiday resorts: red sunumbrellas,
white dresses, flannel trousers, and a curious group
round a fishing-boat which was being dragged up the beach by
means of a windlass. White cliffs to left and right. In front the sea,
pale green with a white fringe and the regular murmur of wavelets
on the shore.
"Beer!..."
The sun was hot. A family was eating ices at the next table. A
young man was taking snapshots with a kodak, and from somewhere
came the shrill voices of girls.
Maigret let his glance wander round the scene. His thoughts
strayed and his brain went into a torpid reverie of increasing
inconsistency, revolving round Captain Fallut.
"Many thanks!"
These words were impressed in his mind, not because of their
meaning but because of die way they were said, dryly, with bitter
irony, by a woman behind him.