OU_214051 UNIVERSA - Osmania University
OU_214051 UNIVERSA - Osmania University OU_214051 UNIVERSA - Osmania University
328 MAINLY MAIGRET " The Octan " " Yes... . She sails at high tide." They were silent. All the sounds of the hospital came to their ears, including the subdued rumble of a stretcher being wheeled towards the operating-theatre. "I didn't want her any more!..." the operator repeated convulsively. " Only it was too late " There was another silence. Then Le Clinche said: " And yet... now ... I so much want to .. ." He didn't dare pronounce the word on his tongue. " To live? ..." asked Maigret. " O, don't you understand? I was mad ... I don't understand it myself. It all happened somewhere else, in another world. We came back here and I realized it. Listen! There was that black cabin and ourselves outside it. And nothing else existed. It seemed to be my whole life. I just wanted to hear her say My big boy again. I couldn't even say how it happened. I opened the door. She went away. There was a man in yellow shoes waiting for her, and they fell into each other's arms on the quay. . .. " I must have been dreaming. That is the right word for it.... And from that moment I wanted not to die. . .. Then Marie Lconnec came with you.... Adele came too, along with that man. ... " But what did you expect me to say? . .. " It's too late, isn't it? . . . They let me out. I went on board and got a revolver. Marie was waiting for me on the quay. She didn't know. . .. " And that afternoon that woman began talking... . And there was the man with yellow shoes too. . . . " Who could conceivably understand all that? ... I fired. . .. It took me a long time to make up my mind. ... Because Marie Lconnec was there! ... " Now .. ." He sobbed. He literally cried: " I'll have to die all the same! And I don't want to die! I'm afraid to die. I . . . I . .." He began tossing about so violently that Maigret called a nurse, who, with the calm precise movements acquired during long years of professional experience, managed to quieten him. A second time the trawler gave its piercing summons, and women ran to line up on the jetty.
THE SAILORS' RENDEZVOUS 329 11. The "Ocian" Sails MAIGRET arrived at the quay just as the new captain was giving the order to cast off the hawsers. He saw the chief engineer saying goodbye to his wife, and went up and took him aside. " Tell me something. It was you, wasn't it, who found the captain's will and put it in the police letter-box? " The other hesitated, rather anxiously. " You've nothing to fear. You suspected Le Clinche. You thought it was the way to save him. Although you had been after the same woman. . .." The siren shrieked angrily to late-comers, and on the quay couples loosened their embraces. " Please don't talk to me any more about it. ... Is it true he's going to die? . . ." " Unless they can save him. Where was the will? " " In the captain's papers. . . ." " And what was it you were looking for? " " I hoped to find a photo ..." he confessed, with lowered head. " You'll excuse me. I've got to . . ." The hawsers fell into the water. The gangway was being taken up. The chief engineer jumped on board and gave a last wave to his wife and a last look at Maigret. Slowly the trawler made its way towards the harbour exit. A man was carrying the cabin-boy, who was scarcely fifteen, on his shoulders. The boy had taken the man's pipe and was holding it proudly between his teeth. On shore women were crying. By walking quickly one could follow the ship, which only got up speed when it was beyond the jetties. People shouted their lastminute instructions. " If you meet the Atlantique, don't forget to tell Dugodet about his wife. ..." The sky was still overcast. The wind ruffled the sea and raised litde white waves which made an angry noise. A Parisian in flannel trousers, followed by two laughing girls in white, was taking photographs of the ship's departure. Maigret nearly knocked down a woman who clutched his arm and asked:
- Page 294 and 295: 278 MAINLY MAIGRET " And you didn't
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THE SAILORS' RENDEZV<strong>OU</strong>S 329<br />
11. The "Ocian" Sails<br />
MAIGRET arrived at the quay just as the new captain was<br />
giving the order to cast off the hawsers. He saw the chief<br />
engineer saying goodbye to his wife, and went up and took him<br />
aside.<br />
" Tell me something. It was you, wasn't it, who found the<br />
captain's will and put it in the police letter-box? "<br />
The other hesitated, rather anxiously.<br />
" You've nothing to fear. You suspected Le Clinche. You<br />
thought it was the way to save him. Although you had been after<br />
the same woman. . .."<br />
The siren shrieked angrily to late-comers, and on the quay<br />
couples loosened their embraces.<br />
" Please don't talk to me any more about it. ... Is it true he's<br />
going to die? . . ."<br />
" Unless they can save him. Where was the will? "<br />
" In the captain's papers. . . ."<br />
" And what was it you were looking for? "<br />
" I hoped to find a photo ..." he confessed, with lowered head.<br />
" You'll excuse me. I've got to . . ."<br />
The hawsers fell into the water. The gangway was being taken<br />
up. The chief engineer jumped on board and gave a last wave to<br />
his wife and a last look at Maigret.<br />
Slowly the trawler made its way towards the harbour exit. A<br />
man was carrying the cabin-boy, who was scarcely fifteen, on his<br />
shoulders. The boy had taken the man's pipe and was holding it<br />
proudly between his teeth.<br />
On shore women were crying.<br />
By walking quickly one could follow the ship, which only got up<br />
speed when it was beyond the jetties. People shouted their lastminute<br />
instructions.<br />
" If you meet the Atlantique, don't forget to tell Dugodet about<br />
his wife. ..."<br />
The sky was still overcast. The wind ruffled the sea and raised<br />
litde white waves which made an angry noise.<br />
A Parisian in flannel trousers, followed by two laughing girls in<br />
white, was taking photographs of the ship's departure.<br />
Maigret nearly knocked down a woman who clutched his arm<br />
and asked:
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