The Methods of Maigret ( PDFDrive )

“Are you taking notes?” Mr. Pyke asked, seeing his companion opening a
large notebook.
Did this imply that for the first time he was seeing Maigret behaving like a
real Chief Inspector?
The name which occurred most often on the list was Justine’s. She called
Nice, Marseilles, Béziers, Avignon, and in one week there were four calls to
Paris.
“We’ll see about that presently,” said Maigret. “I suppose the postmistress
took care to listen in. Is that done in England too?”
“I don’t know if it’s legal, but it’s possible that it sometimes happens.”
The day before, Charlot had telephoned Marseilles. Maigret knew that
already. It was to summon his girl friend, whom they had seen landing from the
Cormorant and with whom he was now playing cards on the terrace of the
Arche.
For the Arche was visible in the distance, with human forms bustling around
it. From where they were, where it was so calm, it looked as active as a hive of
bees.
The most interesting thing was that Marcellin’s name occurred on the list. He
had called a number in Nice, just two days before his death.
With a single movement Maigret rose and went into the post office, and Mr.
Pyke followed him in.
“Do you know what this number is, mademoiselle?”
“Certainly. It’s the house where the lady works. Justine calls it every day; you
can see it on the list.”
“Have you listened in to Justine’s conversations?”
“Often. I no longer bother, because it’s always the same.”
“Does she do the talking, or her son?”
“She talks and Monsieur Émile listens.”
“I don’t understand.”
“She’s deaf. So Monsieur Émile holds the receiver to his ear, and relays what
is being said to her. Then she shouts so loud into the mouthpiece that it’s
difficult to distinguish her syllables. Her first word is always:
“ ‘How much?’
“They give her the figure for the transaction. Monsieur Émile, standing by
her, notes it down. She calls up her houses one after the other.”