The Hotel Majestic Read Online Free PDF Page B

says about her? . . . He says that in her country she must be a gangster, not a governess . . .
    â€œHello! . . . Well I’ll give you a brief run-down of what happened . . . She left the hotel soon after talking to you . . . Instead of taking the taxi the doorman had called for her, she jumped into a taxi which was passing and Janvier was hard put to it not to lose her . . .
    â€œWhen they got to the Grands Boulevards, she leapt down the métro . . . then twice doubled back on her tracks. Janvier didn’t give up and followed her to the Gare de Lyon . . . He was afraid she might take a train, because he hadn’t enough money on him . . .
    â€œThe Rome Express was about to leave from Platform 4—in ten minutes’ time. Ellen Darroman looked in all the compartments . . . Just as she was turning back, disappointed, a tall, very elegant bloke arrived, carrying a bag . . .”
    â€œOswald J. Clark . . .” said Maigret, who was looking vaguely at his wife, while listening. “She obviously wanted to warn him . . .”
    â€œAccording to Janvier, it appears that they met rather as good friends than as an employer and his employee . . . Have you seen Clark? He’s a great tall, lanky devil; muscular, with the open, healthy face of a baseball player . . . They went along the platform arguing, as if Clark was still thinking of going . . . When the train started, he still hadn’t made up his mind, because it looked for a minute as though he was going to jump into the train.
    â€œThen they went out of the station. They hailed a taxi. A few minutes later, they were at the American Embassy, in the Avenue Gabriel . . .
    â€œThey then went to the Avenue Friedland, to see a consulting barrister, a solicitor as they call it . . .
    â€œThe solicitor telephoned the examining magistrate, and threequarters of an hour later all three of them arrived at the Palais de Justice and were taken at once to the magistrate’s office . . .
    â€œI don’t know what went on inside, but the magistrate wanted you to telephone him as soon as you got back . . . It seems it is very urgent . . .
    â€œTo conclude Janvier’s story, after leaving the Palais de Justice, our three characters went to the Forensic Laboratory to identify the body officially . . . Then they went back to the Majestic and there, Clark had two whiskies in the bar with the solicitor while the young woman went up to her room . . .
    â€œThat’s all, chief . . . The magistrate seems very anxious to have a word with you . . . What time is it? He’ll be at home until eight; Turbigo 25-62 . . . Then he’s having dinner with some friends, whose number he gave me . . . Just a minute . . . Galvani 47-53 . . .
    â€œDo you need me any more, chief? Goodnight . . . Torrence will be on duty tonight . . .”
    â€œCan I serve the soup?” Madame Maigret asked, sighing, shaking little bits of cotton off her dress.
    â€œGet my dinner-jacket first . . .”
    As it was after eight, he dialled Galvani 47-53. It was the number of a young deputy. A maid answered and he could hear the sound of knives and forks and an excited buzz of conversation.
    â€œI’ll go and call the magistrate . . . Who is speaking? Superintendent Négret? . . .”
    Through the open door of the bedroom, he could see the wardrobe and Madame Maigret taking out his dinner-jacket . . .
    â€œIs that you, superintendent? . . . Hum . . . Ha . . . You don’t speak English, do you? . . . Hello! Don’t ring off . . . That’s what I thought . . . I wanted to say . . . Hum! . . . it’s about this case, naturally . . . I think it would be better if you didn’t concern yourself with . . . I mean not directly . . . with Mr. Clark and his staff . . .”
    A slight smile hovered round Maigret’s mouth.
    â€œMonsieur Clark came to see me this afternoon with the governess . . . He’s a man of some standing, with important