The Methods of Maigret ( PDFDrive )

downpours. It had been raining like this since four or five o’clock, and the roofs,
window ledges, and umbrellas made reflections similar to the water of the Seine,
which the Chief Inspector could see by twisting his neck.
Mr. Pyke did not move. He remained seated on his chair in a corner, as rigid
as if he were in a waiting room, and it was beginning to be exasperating. His
eyes traveled slowly from the Inspector to the little man and from the little man
to the Inspector, without it being possible to guess what was passing in the
English official’s mind.
“You realize, Caracci, that your attitude could cost you dear, and that your
club may well be closed down for good and all?”
The Corsican, unimpressed, gave Maigret a conspiratorial wink, smiled,
smoothed the ends of his black mustache with his ring finger.
“I’ve always gone straight, officer. Try asking your colleague, Priollet.”
Although there was a corpse, it was actually Chief Inspector Priollet, chief of
the Vice Squad, that the case concerned, owing to the particular circumstances in
which it had all started. Unfortunately Priollet was in the Jura at the funeral of
some relation.
“In short, you refuse to speak?”
“I don’t refuse, officer.”
Maigret, heavily, looking disgruntled, went and opened the door.
“Lucas! Work on him a bit.”
Oh, that look Mr. Pyke was fixing on him! Mr. Pyke might be the nicest man
on earth, but there were moments when Maigret caught himself hating him. Just
as it happened with his brother-in-law, who was called Mouthon. Once a year in
the spring, Mouthon got off the train at the Gare de l’Est with his wife, who was
Madame Maigret’s sister.
He, too, was the nicest man on earth. He would never have hurt a fly. As for
his wife, she was gaiety personified, and from the moment she arrived in the flat
in Boulevard Richard-Lenoir she would call for an apron to help with the
housework. On the first day it was perfect. The second day it was almost as
perfect.
“We’re leaving tomorrow,” Mouthon would then announce.
“I won’t hear of it!” Madame Maigret would protest. “Why leave so soon?”
“Because we’ll be getting in your way.”
“Not on your life!”
Maigret would also declare with conviction: