The Methods of Maigret ( PDFDrive )

which she waited for several months without hearing of him. She lodged a
complaint. It was found that he had resold the book to an American. As for the
money, he promised to pay it back in monthly installments. I got its former
owner on the telephone. Moricourt was habitually two or three payments behind
but he paid up in the end, bit by bit.”
“Is that all?”
“Almost. You know the type. Always well dressed, always impeccably
correct.”
“And with old women?”
“Nothing definite. He had dealings of which he made a great mystery.”
“And the other one?”
“Did you know they knew one another? It seems De Greef is quite somebody;
some people claim that, if he wanted, he could be one of the best painters of the
generation.”
“And he doesn’t want to be?”
“He ends by quarreling with everybody. He went off with a Belgian girl of
very good family.”
“I know.”
“Good. When he arrived in Paris he held an exhibition of his works in a small
room in Rue de Seine. On the last day, as he hadn’t sold anything, he burned all
the canvases. Some people say veritable orgies took place on his boat. He has
illustrated several erotic works which are sold under the counter. It’s mainly off
this that he lives. There you are, Chief. I’m waiting for Ostend to call.
Everything all right down there?”
Through the glass Mr. Pyke showed Maigret his watch and, as it was five
o’clock, he went off in the direction of the major’s villa.
The Chief Inspector felt quite lightheaded about it, regarding it like a spell of
holidays.
“Did you convey my congratulations to Janiver? Telephone my wife and tell
her to go and see him and take something along, a present or some flowers. But
not a silver mug!”
He found himself back with Aglaé, separated from her by the grilled partition.
She seemed very amused. She admitted without shame:
“I’d like to see one of his books. Do you think he has some on board?”
Then, without stopping: “It’s strange! Your job’s a lot simpler than people
think. Information pours in from all sides. Do you think it’s one of those two?”