The Methods of Maigret ( PDFDrive )

“ ‘Is that you?… it’s me… yes… No, it’s not money. Money, I could have as
much of that as I wanted . . .’ ”
“Did she say anything?”
“She murmured: ‘You’ve been drinking again, Marcellin.’
“He swore he was practically sober. He went on:
“ ‘I want you to do something for me… Is there a big Larousse dictionary in
the house?’
“That’s all I know. At that moment Madame Galli came in and she’s not easy
to please. She says it’s she who pays the clerks in taxes and is always talking of
complaining.
“As the call only lasted six minutes, it’s unlikely that Ginette had the time to
look up the Larousse, come back to the telephone and give Marcellin a reply.”
“She sent the reply by telegram. Look! I have it here for you.”
“She gave him a yellow form on which he read:
Died in 1890.
It was signed: Ginette.
“It would have been too bad for you if you hadn’t come up to see me,
wouldn’t it? I shouldn’t have come down, and you would have found out
nothing.”
“Did you notice Marcellin’s face when he read this telegram?”
“He reread it two or three times, to make sure he had got it right, then he went
off whistling.”
“As though he had received some good news?”
“Exactly. And also, I think, as if he had suddenly been struck with admiration
for somebody.”
“Did you listen to Charlot’s conversation yesterday?”
“With Bébé?”
“I beg your pardon?”
“He calls her Bébé. She must have arrived this morning. You mean you want
me to repeat the exact words?
“He said to her: ‘How goes, Bébé? I’m fine, thanks. I’ve got to stick around
here a few more days and I’d like a little bit of fun. So come on over.’ ”
“And she came.” Maigret finished. “Thank you very much, mademoiselle. I’m
on the bench outside with my friend, and I’m waiting for a call from Paris.”
Three quarters of an hour was passed watching the bowls; the young married