OU_214051 UNIVERSA - Osmania University

THE SAILORS' RENDEZVOUS 285
" He was very jealous, wasn't he? It was because of this jealousy
that for three months he didn't say a single word to you? "
" No...."
" What? There was another reason? "
Le Clinche grew red and didn't know where to look; too quickly
he stammered:
" That's to say, perhaps it was because of that—I don't
know. . .."
" What other cause for hatred or mistrust was there between
you?"
" I . . . There was none.... You were right.... He was
jealous. .. ."
" And what sentiment were you guided by on becoming Ad&e's
lover? "
Silence.
" You love her? "
" No! " he said curtly.
" Thank you! " shrilled the woman. " You are polite, I must
say! But that didn't prevent you from running round me up to
the last day. Isn't that true? It's also true that there was probably
someone else waiting for you on shore. . . ."
Gaston Buzier affected to whistle, his fingers stuck in the
armholes of his waistcoat.
" Tell me again, Le Clinche, whether, when you went back on
board after witnessing the death of the captain, Adele was really
locked up in his cabin."
" Locked up, yes. . .."
" So she couldn't have killed him? . . ."
" No, that wasn't it, I swear. .. ."
Le Clinche was quite unnerved. But Superintendent Girard went
on ponderously:
" Buzier states that you didn't do the murder. You, after accusing
him, took it back. Another hypothesis is that the two of you were
accomplices...."
"Thank you! " Buzier exploded with terrific scorn. "When
I get mixed up in a crime it won't be in the company of a ...
a "
a • • •
" That's enough! Both of you might have done the murder out
of jealousy, as you had both had Adele as your mistress."
Buzier sneered.
" Me jealous? ... Of what? "