The Methods of Maigret ( PDFDrive )

being the most tight-laced in the world!
“It’s a sort of theft, but a theft committed in special circumstances. When a
gentleman accompanies an unknown lady to a more or less disreputable hotel
and then goes and complains that his wallet has been stolen, it’s called
inveigling. Nearly always the prostitute has an accomplice. You follow me?”
“I understand.”
There were three convictions for acting as accomplice to inveigling in Marcel
Pacaud’s file, and on each occasion there was a certain Ginette in the case.
Then things became worse still, for there was an incident involving a knife
thrust which Pacaud had administered to a recalcitrant gentleman.
“They’re what you call mauvais garçons, I believe?” Mr. Pyke insinuated
gently. His French was terribly impregnated with nuances, so much so that it
became ironical.
“Precisely. I wrote to him, I recall. I don’t know how you deal with them in
your country.”
“Very correctly.”
“I don’t doubt it. Here we sometimes knock them around. We’re not always
gentle with them. But the odd thing is that they seldom hold it against us. They
know we’re only doing our job. From one interrogation to the next we get to
know one another.”
“This is the one who called himself a friend of yours?”
“I’m convinced he was sincere. I particularly remember the girl and I
remember even better the headed paper. If we have the chance I’ll show you the
Brasserie des Ternes. It’s very comfortable and the sauerkraut is excellent. Do
you like sauerkraut?”
“On occasions,” replied the Englishman without enthusiasm.
“Always, in the afternoon and evening there are a few women sitting at a
table. It’s there that Ginette used to work. A Breton girl, who came from a
village in the St. Malo area. She started off as a maid of all work with a local
butcher. She adored Pacaud, and when he talked of her tears would come into his
eyes. Does that surprise you?”
Nothing surprised Mr. Pyke, whose expression betrayed no emotion
whatsoever.
“I became rather interested in them at one time. She was riddled with T.B. She
hadn’t wanted to have herself cured because that would have taken her away
from her Marcel. When he was in prison I persuaded her to go to see one of my