My Friend Maigret Read Online Free PDF

smell of southern cooking which pervaded every corner of the house. He hesitated about whether to go down in shirtsleeves, for it was hot, but decided that it would look too much like a holiday and put on his coat again.
    When he arrived downstairs there were several people at the bar, mostly men in fishermen’s clothes. Lechat was waiting for him in the doorway.
    â€œWould you like a stroll, chief?”
    â€œWe’d better wait for Mr. Pyke.”
    â€œHe’s already gone out.”
    â€œWhere?”
    â€œInto the water. Paul lent him a bathing suit.”
    They headed unconsciously for the harbor. The slope of the ground led them there of its own accord. One felt that everyone was bound inevitably to take the same path.
    â€œI think you’d better be very careful, chief. Whoever killed Marcellin has a grudge against you and will try to get you.”
    â€œWe’d better wait until Mr. Pyke is out of the water.”
    Lechat pointed to a head which emerged on the far side of the boats.
    â€œIs he on the case?”
    â€œHe’s following it. We mustn’t give the impression of plotting behind his back.”
    â€œWe would have been quieter at the Grand Hôtel. It’s closed in the winter. It has only just opened and there’s no one there. Only it’s at Paul’s that everyone meets. It’s there that it all began, because it was there that Marcellin mentioned you and claimed you were a friend of his.”
    â€œLet’s wait for Mr. Pyke.”
    â€œDo you want to question people in his presence?”
    â€œI shall have to.”
    Lechat made a wry face, but did not dare to protest.
    â€œWhere are you thinking of summoning them? There’s hardly anywhere except the town hall. A single room with benches, a table, flags for July 14 and a bust of the Republic. The mayor keeps the grocer’s shop, next to the Arche de Noé. That’s him you can see over there, pushing a wheelbarrow.”
    Mr. Pyke was now coming back into his depth once more near a boat attached to a chain, was treading water, peacefully splashing in the sun.
    â€œThe water’s marvelous,” he said.
    â€œIf you like, we’ll wait here while you go and get dressed.”
    â€œI’m very comfortable as I am.”
    This time it was a point to him. He was in fact just as much at his ease in bathing trunks, with drops of salt water trickling down his long, thin body, as in his gray suit.
    He pointed to a black yacht, not in the harbor, but at anchor, several cables out. The English flag was discernible.
    â€œWho’s that?”
    Lechat explained:
    â€œThe boat is called the North Star . It comes here almost every year. It belongs to a Mrs. Ellen Wilcox: that’s also the name of a whisky, I believe. She’s the owner of Wilcox whisky.”
    â€œIs she young?”
    â€œShe’s fairly well preserved. She lives on board with her secretary, Philippe de Moricourt, and a crew of two. There’s another Englishman on the island, who lives here all the year round. You can see his house from here. It’s the one with the minaret beside it.”
    Mr. Pyke didn’t look particularly enthusiastic at coming across fellow countrymen.
    â€œIt’s Major Bellam, but the locals simply call him the major, and sometimes Teddy.”
    â€œI suppose he’s an Indian Army major?”
    â€œI don’t know.”
    â€œDoes he drink a lot?”
    â€œYes, a lot. You’ll see him tonight at the Arche. You’ll see everyone at the Arche, including Mrs. Wilcox and her secretary.”
    â€œWere they present when Marcellin spoke?” asked Maigret, for the sake of something to say, for in actual fact he was no longer interested in anything.
    â€œThey were. Practically everyone was at the Arche, as they are every evening. In a week or two the tourists begin to pour in and life will be different. For the moment it’s not entirely the