The Methods of Maigret ( PDFDrive )

hunger than strangle a chicken!”
“Of course you haven’t been onto the island these last few days?”
“It’s easy to check up.”
“Because you hadn’t left the house in Nice, had you? It’s an excellent alibi.”
“Do I need one?”
“According to what you said just now, I am speaking as a policeman. Marcel,
despite everything, could have been in your way. Especially as Monsieur Émile
is a big fish, a very big fish. Supposing he marries you, he would leave you, on
his death, a considerable fortune.”
“Quite considerable, yes! I wonder now if I was right to come. I wasn’t
expecting you to speak to me like that. I’ve admitted everything to you frankly.”
Her eyes were shining, as though she were on the verge of tears, and it was an
old face, badly patched up and disfigured with a childish pout, that Maigret
beheld.
“You can do what you like. I don’t know who killed Marcel. It’s a
catastrophe.”
“Especially for him.”
“For him too, yes. But he’s at rest. Are you going to arrest me?”
She had said this with the shadow of a smile, although one could feel that she
was anxious, more serious than she wanted to appear.
“For the moment I have no such intention.”
“Can I go to the funeral tomorrow morning? If you like, I’ll come straight
back afterward. All you have to do is send a boat for me at Giens Point.”
“Perhaps.”
“You won’t say anything to Justine?”
“Not before it’s strictly necessary and I don’t envisage the necessity.”
“Are you cross with me?”
“Of course not.”
“Yes. I felt it right away, before leaving the Cormorant, from the moment I
saw you. I recognized you. I was moved, because it was a whole period of my
life coming back to me.”
“A period you regret?”
“Perhaps. I don’t know. I sometimes wonder.”
She rose with a sigh, without putting on her shoes again. She wanted to unlace
her stays and was waiting for Maigret to leave.