OU_214051 UNIVERSA - Osmania University
OU_214051 UNIVERSA - Osmania University OU_214051 UNIVERSA - Osmania University
74 MAINLY MAIGRET dress, was at his usual place at the head of the stairs, gazing lethargically into the dance-room. "I see your young man's here again," Jacqueline remarked. " Poor kid—it's quite pathetic! " " Yesterday I told him to stop coming, and what do you think, he burst into tears!.. . Do you know, the cigarette-girl stuck him for twenty-five francs for a packet of cigarettes just now! I told her it was a dirty trick; he can't afford it." But the thoughts of both were far from the young poet's troubles. It was Jacqueline who spoke first. " Well, what's to be done next? " " I wish I knew.... Bob, mix me one with a kick in it." She drank at a gulp the cocktail the barman handed her; then knitted her brows, thinking hard. Her eyes were fixed on the young poet sitting on the wall-sofa, but she saw him dimly, like a figure seen through badly focussed glasses. At last she began: " Now that they've traced the notes to Gand ..." Then fell silent again. " Look here! " Jacqueline said. " I propose we have a meal, to start with. I can't face trouble on an.empty stomach, and, by the look of things, they'll be round here any moment." Just then a telephone-bell purred. When the manager went off to the telephone-box, Sylvie cocked an ear in his direction, for she had a presentiment that the call concerned her. " Wait here," she said. As she stepped out on to the landing, the manager was returning from the box. " Oh, good! There you are! The call's for you." " Hullo? " She spoke in a low tone, so as not to be overheard by the manager, who was only a few yards away. " Is that Mademoiselle Sylvie? " a voice enquired. " I want to talk to Mademoiselle Sylvie herself." " Yes, it's me." " The porter at the Palace speaking." He dropped his voice till it was barely audible. " Listen! The police have just been round. They've found out about your having stayed here with Monsieur Nagear. I thought I'd better let you know, in case ..." The manager had his eyes on her as she walked back to the bar. She gave a smile in passing to her young poet, who gazed at her adoringly. " We're for it! " she told Jacqueline.
THE LODGER 75 " What do you mean? " " They've found out about the Palace. Where are the notes? " " In my bag." " Hand it over." Under cover of the projecting edge of the big mahogany bar Sylvie managed to extract the notes without being seen, and slipped them under her bodice. " What do you propose to do? And how about me} What ought I to say? " " Oh, you're safe enough. I only asked you to change the notes. You knew nothing about them." " And that's the truth. When I went to Gand I didn't know ..." Two couples were dancing. Furtively Sylvie squeezed her friend's fingers. " Don't worry, pet. Leave it to me." When he saw her coming back to him, the young man beamed with delight. " Your friend's nothing like so pretty as you are," he exclaimed with naive eagerness. " What'll you drink? " " We've had a drink already." " Yes, but he's taken the glasses away." She scowled at the waiter, though, after all, he was only doing his duty in obliging customers to order drinks. " All right. An orangeade." In some way it was a nuisance having this sentimental youth on her hands; still, his company made the situation easier than if she'd been alone. Though Jacqueline had turned up, Sylvie continued watching the door, and once again she had a presentiment—on hearing heavy footsteps coming up the stairs, and the voice of the manager, announcing: " This way, sir. The show's just going to start." But no one entered, nor was there any sound but that of the clubroom door opening and closing. For, officially the Merryland passed for a private club; this enabled alcoholic drinks to be served on the premises. And, for appearance's sake, a small room on the other side of the landing had been fitted up as a reading-room, with magazines strewn on the table, and two big leather armchairs. " Does this... this gay life really give you pleasure? " The' young man blushed at his audacity. Without stopping to think, she answered almost angrily: "'Gay'do you call it?"
- 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 82 and 83: 70 MAINLY MAIGRET hours, helping hi
- Page 84 and 85: 72 MAINLY MAIGRET and never notice
- 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
- Page 132 and 133: 120 MAINLY MAIGRET tosh. He took no
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74 MAINLY MAIGRET<br />
dress, was at his usual place at the head of the stairs, gazing lethargically<br />
into the dance-room.<br />
"I see your young man's here again," Jacqueline remarked.<br />
" Poor kid—it's quite pathetic! "<br />
" Yesterday I told him to stop coming, and what do you think,<br />
he burst into tears!.. . Do you know, the cigarette-girl stuck him<br />
for twenty-five francs for a packet of cigarettes just now! I told<br />
her it was a dirty trick; he can't afford it."<br />
But the thoughts of both were far from the young poet's troubles.<br />
It was Jacqueline who spoke first.<br />
" Well, what's to be done next? "<br />
" I wish I knew.... Bob, mix me one with a kick in it."<br />
She drank at a gulp the cocktail the barman handed her; then<br />
knitted her brows, thinking hard. Her eyes were fixed on the young<br />
poet sitting on the wall-sofa, but she saw him dimly, like a figure<br />
seen through badly focussed glasses. At last she began:<br />
" Now that they've traced the notes to Gand ..." Then fell<br />
silent again.<br />
" Look here! " Jacqueline said. " I propose we have a meal, to<br />
start with. I can't face trouble on an.empty stomach, and, by the<br />
look of things, they'll be round here any moment."<br />
Just then a telephone-bell purred. When the manager went off<br />
to the telephone-box, Sylvie cocked an ear in his direction, for she<br />
had a presentiment that the call concerned her.<br />
" Wait here," she said.<br />
As she stepped out on to the landing, the manager was returning<br />
from the box.<br />
" Oh, good! There you are! The call's for you."<br />
" Hullo? " She spoke in a low tone, so as not to be overheard by<br />
the manager, who was only a few yards away.<br />
" Is that Mademoiselle Sylvie? " a voice enquired. " I want to<br />
talk to Mademoiselle Sylvie herself."<br />
" Yes, it's me."<br />
" The porter at the Palace speaking." He dropped his voice till<br />
it was barely audible. " Listen! The police have just been round.<br />
They've found out about your having stayed here with Monsieur<br />
Nagear. I thought I'd better let you know, in case ..."<br />
The manager had his eyes on her as she walked back to the bar.<br />
She gave a smile in passing to her young poet, who gazed at her<br />
adoringly.<br />
" We're for it! " she told Jacqueline.