A Dead Man in Tangier Read Online Free PDF

it? I mean, I never had much time for Bossu, but that makes it sound as if he was stuck like a pig.'
    ‘That’s not the only thing,’ said Millet. ‘It makes it sound as it he was stuck by, well, one of us .’
    It was agreed that Renaud would take Seymour with him. Seymour had not wanted to cramp his style, but Renaud seemed quite happy with the arrangement.
    ‘Juliette will be glad to see you,’ he assured him. ‘It will satisfy her that everything that can be done is being done.'
    They set off in one of the soiled, tatty cabs, which Seymour had assumed were mainly used for the transporting of flies. There were several waiting optimistically outside the marquee. Optimistically, but not urgently. They seemed relaxed about time in Tangier.
    ‘It will wait for us while we’re talking to Juliette,’ the Chief of Police said. ‘Or perhaps’ – having second thoughts – ‘for you if Juliette wants me to stay.'
    Seymour thought that quite likely.
    The cab took them back the way they had come and then turned up the slope to the rows of bougainvillea villas. It came to a stop outside one of the larger ones, where a woman was on the verandah watering some plants.
    ‘Constant!'
    ‘Juliette!'
    ‘And you have brought a friend with you!'
    ‘Monsieur Seymour. From London. He has come out here –’
    ‘To assist Monsieur Renaud,’ said Seymour swiftly.
    ‘– in the matter of Bossu.'
    ‘Ah!'
    Madame Bossu stepped off the verandah into the sunlight and he saw at once what the officers had meant. If that was your type. Blonde, peaches-and-cream complexion, full, pouting lips.
    ‘Then I wish you every success, Monsieur, in all your ventures here.'
    Spoken in a low, husky voice and giving a hint, surely, that the ventures might not be restricted to l ’ affaire Bossu .
    ‘I am so sorry, Madame, to hear about your misfortune.
    ’ ‘I loved him,’ she said tragically. ‘And now he is gone. And I am left desolate.'
    ‘But not alone, Juliette,’ said Monsieur Renaud.
    ‘Not alone,’ agreed Juliette, permitting herself a tender smile, ‘when I have friends like you.'
    ‘At your service,’ said Renaud fervently. ‘Always!'
    ‘Constant is a great support to me,’ she said to Seymour, ‘and at a time like this one needs support. There are so many things to sort out. Wills, banks –’
    ‘Insurance,’ murmured the Chief of Police.
    ‘And how is the insurance coming along?'
    ‘We’re getting there. It takes time. All these things are a little more complicated than you think.'
    ‘Everything Bossu did was complicated,’ sighed Madame Bossu.
    ‘He had so many interests! The business ones especially will take some time to sort out.'
    ‘I know. And all over the country, too! Casablanca, Marrakesh. Fez, Rabat –’
    ‘And complicated! You wouldn’t believe how complicated they are, Juliette.'
    ‘But you will sort them out,’ said Madame Bossu con-fidently. ‘I know I can rely on you, Constant. Above all other men.'
    ‘You can, Juliette, you can. But it all takes time. You must be patient, Juliette. And keep your spirits up. You are too much alone. You need company, Juliette, someone to take you out of yourself.'
    ‘I have good, kind friends,’ said Juliette, sighing.
    ‘You have, Juliette. But they may not be enough. There will be times when you are alone at night –’
    ‘I hope you are not going to suggest anything improper, Constant!'
    ‘At a time like this? Oh, Juliette, how could you think that! I was thinking of you. Alone in that big house. Thinking sad thoughts. You need someone there when your friends are not there. Someone to stay with you and cheer you up –’
    ‘Constant, you are being improper!’
    ‘Not at all! I protest, not at all! I was thinking’ – casting around – ‘of a woman.'
    ‘A woman!’ said Juliette coldly.
    ‘As a companion for you. At this distressing time.'
    ‘I hope you were not thinking of Monique.'
    ‘The last person I would think of!'
    ‘That