OU_214051 UNIVERSA - Osmania University
OU_214051 UNIVERSA - Osmania University OU_214051 UNIVERSA - Osmania University
70 MAINLY MAIGRET hours, helping himself from the coffee-pot, big as an urn, that always stood on the range. As he poured himself out another cup he said to the student : " Shall I pour you one out too? " " No, thanks." " No tobacco. No coffee. And I wouldn't mind betting, no strong drink either!" He spoke in a bantering tone, with an almost affectionate smile. He was prepared to go to any lengths to break the ice between himself and his taciturn companion. But Moise went on stolidly writing, his furrowed brows propped on his left hand. How strange to think that for seven years this young man had foregone all the amenities of life so as to .carry on with his studies! And, Elie could have sworn it, had steered clear of women too! No, there had been no woman in his life, nor any pleasure but the bleak joy of amassing knowledge. Madame Baron had explained to Elie how Moise would sit poring over his books all day in his fireless room, in a frayed old overcoat, a blanket wrapped round his shoulders; and how at first he used to wash his one and only shirt in the basin, stretching it at arm's length so as to dispense with ironing. Finally, however, she had coaxed him into buying a second shirt, and now she washed his shirt once a week, free of charge. Three foolscap pages were already covered with writing, and apart from the light creak of the pencil and an occasional rattle of the table, there was no sound except the ticking of the alarm-clock, which stood at a quarter past ten. " What do you make of me? " Elie asked abruptly. The question had been on the tip of his tongue for several moments, though he hardly knew what prompted him to utter it. All he knew was that he wanted to get on more intimate terms with Moise, who at once attracted and intimidated him. And now at last the Polish Jew looked up and fixed his eyes on Elie; impassive, almost inhuman eyes. " It's no concern of mine who you may be." Bitterly offended, Elie got up, and once again—as he did quite twenty times a day—walked back to his bedroom. But he found it so boring by himself that very soon heTeturned to the kitchen. " Please listen," he said impressively. " I know that I can trust you, Monsieur Moise, and there's something I'd like you to do— supposing ... supposing anything happened to me."
THE LODGER 71 Actually there was no particular service he wanted of the young Jew, in any event. But it had occurred to him that by talking in this strain he might jolt the man out of his real, or feigned, indifference. And the words took effect. Moise looked up sharply, and even put down his pencil. Then he said gravely: " That's enough. Will you kindly drop the subject? " He rose from his seat. Elie wondered what his next move would be, and he felt the blood rising to his cheeks, his nerves tingling with suppressed excitement. By now he was in the mood to blurt out—almost anything. " Surely, as members of the same race . . ." he began tentatively. Moise gathered up his books and papers, and took a step towards the door. In a low tone he said: " What do you hope to gain by it? " It wasn't clear if this remark referred to what had just been said, or, in a general way, to Elie's line of conduct. " Oh, if you take it that way .. ." " I'm not taking anything in any way. It's none of my business. Still, as you've brought it up, there's one thing I will say. Madame Baron has been most kind to me, and I sincerely hope you won't bring any trouble on her." He went out without a backward glance, walked slowly through the hall and up the stairs. Left to himself in the kitchen, Elie felt a rush of hopelessness, a sense of isolation such as he had never known before. The bottom had fallen out of his private universe, there was no foothold anywhere. He had had a similar feeling, though in a milder way, earlier in the morning, when counting up the contents of his wallet. . . . He had brought it on himself, by forcing his advances on Moise. Still, if he had acted thus, wasn't it because he had a feeling that the young man suspected something? And, though alone, he conjured up an ironically superior smile, to neutralize the snub he had just received, and even murmured to himself: " Of course he's jealous of me—that explains it." He put some more coal on the fire and drew his chair up to the fireside. Noticing that there was hardly any water in the saucepan in which the potatoes were boiling, he fetched a jug and added some. While he was doing this, Madame Baron entered, a pail in each hand. When she saw what he was up to, her face lit up. " That's nice of you! You're not like Monsieur Moise, who'll sit there for hours on end with the saucepan right under his nose
- Page 31 and 32: THE LODGER *9 strength to raise it
- Page 33 and 34: THE LODGER 21 He took no thought, b
- Page 35 and 36: THE LODGER 23 It was dark by the ti
- Page 37 and 38: THE LODGER *? But, even before she
- Page 39 and 40: THE LODGER 27 and settled down behi
- Page 41 and 42: THE LODGER *9 His lips were blue. N
- Page 43 and 44: THE LODGER 3* The snow had melted.
- Page 45 and 46: THE LODGER 33 hips. Her stockings s
- Page 47 and 48: THE LODGER 35 " Monsieur Moise! We'
- Page 49 and 50: THE LODGER 37 some small pork pies;
- Page 51 and 52: THE LODGER 39 He had only employed
- Page 53 and 54: THE LODGER 4* notes were there, to
- Page 55 and 56: THE LODGER 43 the house. Of course
- Page 57 and 58: THE LODGER 45 " Are you in bed? " M
- Page 59 and 60: THE LODGER 47 He had sweated copiou
- Page 61 and 62: THE LODGER 49 " Hope I'm not intrud
- Page 63 and 64: THE LODGER 5* " By the way," he sai
- Page 65 and 66: THE LODGER 53 " What do you think o
- Page 67 and 68: THE LODGER 55 on the musician. Just
- Page 69 and 70: THE LODGER 57 that killed him. When
- Page 71 and 72: THE LODGER 59 But it fell flat. Nob
- Page 73 and 74: THE LODGER The only sound in the ro
- Page 75: THE LODGER 63 " That's better! I've
- Page 78 and 79: 66 MAINLY MAIGRET front of him. And
- Page 80 and 81: 68 MAINJLY MAIGRET thousand-franc n
- Page 84 and 85: 72 MAINLY MAIGRET and never notice
- Page 86 and 87: 74 MAINLY MAIGRET dress, was at his
- Page 88 and 89: 76 MAINLY MAIGRET But she let it go
- Page 90 and 91: 78 MAINLY MAIGRET " Yes? What did y
- Page 92 and 93: So MAINLY MAIGRET wasn't a Sunday
- Page 94 and 95: 82 MAINLY MAIGRET "Answer'me!" His
- Page 96 and 97: 84 MAINLY MAIGRET spread out, his f
- Page 98 and 99: 86 MAINLY MAIGRET air; a hateful pi
- Page 100 and 101: S3 MAINLY MAIGRET Sylvie—to let h
- Page 102 and 103: 90 MAINLY MAIGRET " Monsieur Valesc
- Page 104 and 105: 92 MAINLY MAIGRET that practically
- Page 106 and 107: 94 MAINLY MAIGRET in the bedroom, h
- Page 108 and 109: 9* MAINLY MAIGRET ing? They were ta
- Page 110 and 111: 98 MAINLY MAIGRET " The police auth
- Page 112 and 113: 100 MAINLY MAIGRET the festive aspe
- Page 114 and 115: 102 MAINLY MAIGRET She looked round
- Page 116 and 117: 104 MAINLY MAIGRET "The best to Bel
- Page 118 and 119: io6 MAINLY MAIGRET " Yes—what abo
- Page 120 and 121: io8 MAINLY MAIGRET one of them woul
- Page 122 and 123: no MAINLY MAIGRET Suddenly she gave
- Page 124 and 125: 112 MAINLY MAIGRET me away. For mon
- Page 126 and 127: 114 MAINLY MAIGRET Obediently, Anto
- Page 128 and 129: 116 MAINLY MAIGRET They could see M
- Page 130 and 131: n8 MAINLY MAIGRET " Move on! Didn't
70 MAINLY MAIGRET<br />
hours, helping himself from the coffee-pot, big as an urn, that always<br />
stood on the range. As he poured himself out another cup he said<br />
to the student :<br />
" Shall I pour you one out too? "<br />
" No, thanks."<br />
" No tobacco. No coffee. And I wouldn't mind betting, no strong<br />
drink either!" He spoke in a bantering tone, with an almost<br />
affectionate smile. He was prepared to go to any lengths to break<br />
the ice between himself and his taciturn companion. But Moise<br />
went on stolidly writing, his furrowed brows propped on his left<br />
hand.<br />
How strange to think that for seven years this young man had<br />
foregone all the amenities of life so as to .carry on with his studies!<br />
And, Elie could have sworn it, had steered clear of women too!<br />
No, there had been no woman in his life, nor any pleasure but<br />
the bleak joy of amassing knowledge. Madame Baron had explained<br />
to Elie how Moise would sit poring over his books all day in his<br />
fireless room, in a frayed old overcoat, a blanket wrapped round<br />
his shoulders; and how at first he used to wash his one and only<br />
shirt in the basin, stretching it at arm's length so as to dispense<br />
with ironing. Finally, however, she had coaxed him into buying<br />
a second shirt, and now she washed his shirt once a week, free of<br />
charge.<br />
Three foolscap pages were already covered with writing, and<br />
apart from the light creak of the pencil and an occasional rattle of<br />
the table, there was no sound except the ticking of the alarm-clock,<br />
which stood at a quarter past ten.<br />
" What do you make of me? " Elie asked abruptly. The question<br />
had been on the tip of his tongue for several moments, though he<br />
hardly knew what prompted him to utter it. All he knew was that<br />
he wanted to get on more intimate terms with Moise, who at once<br />
attracted and intimidated him.<br />
And now at last the Polish Jew looked up and fixed his eyes on<br />
Elie; impassive, almost inhuman eyes.<br />
" It's no concern of mine who you may be."<br />
Bitterly offended, Elie got up, and once again—as he did quite<br />
twenty times a day—walked back to his bedroom. But he found it<br />
so boring by himself that very soon heTeturned to the kitchen.<br />
" Please listen," he said impressively. " I know that I can trust<br />
you, Monsieur Moise, and there's something I'd like you to do—<br />
supposing ... supposing anything happened to me."
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