The Sailor's Rendezvous by Georges Simenon

Author:Georges Simenon [Simenon, Georges]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Georges Simenon
ISBN: 9780140031362
Google: udJxAAAACAAJ
Publisher: Penguin
Published: 1970-10-30T00:00:00+00:00

Maigret, still leaning on the mantelpiece, had taken no part in the interrogation, letting his colleague speak and confining himself to observing the two men.

‘ I will repeat my question: Was there a third person on the quay?’

‘ I don’t know… ’ sighed the accused brokenly.

‘ That means yes?’

A shrug of the shoulders signifying:

‘ If you like.’

‘ Who?’

‘ It was dark… ’

‘ Well, tell me why you asserted that the murderer was wearing yellow shoes. Wasn’t it to avert suspicion from the real murderer, whom you know?’

The young man pressed his forehead between his two hands.

‘ I can’t go on… ’ he sobbed.

‘ Answer!’

‘ No!… Do what you like… ’

‘ Bring in the next witness.’

The door opened again, and Adèle came forward with an exaggerated self-assurance. She gave a quick glance round the assembly, to try and make out what had been happening. She gave a specially long look at the operator, and seemed amazed to see him so overcome.

‘ Now, Le Clinche, I expect you recognize the woman whom Captain Fallut kept concealed in his cabin throughout the entire journey, and whose lover you were… ’ He looked coldly at her, although Adèle’s lips were already half-opened in an encouraging smile.

‘ That’s her.’

‘ Briefly, there were three of you on the ship hanging round her: the captain, the chief engineer, and you. You possessed her at least once… The chief engineer didn’t succeed… Did the captain know you had deceived him?’

‘ He never mentioned it to me.’

‘ He was very jealous, wasn’t he? It was because of this jealousy that for three months he didn’t say a single word to you?’

‘ No… ’

‘ What? There was another reason?’

Le Clinche grew red and didn’t know where to look; too quickly he stammered:

‘ That’s to say, perhaps it was because of that — I don’t know… ’

‘ What other cause for hatred or mistrust was there between you?’

‘ I… There was none… You were right… He was jealous… ’

‘ And what sentiment were you guided by on becoming Adèle’s lover?’

Silence.

‘ You love her?’

‘ No!’ he said curtly.

‘ Thank you!’ shrilled the woman. ‘ You are polite, I must say!

But that didn’t prevent you from running round me up to the last day. Isn’t that true? It’s also true that there was probably someone else waiting for you on shore… ’

Gaston Buzier affected to whistle, his fingers stuck in the armholes of his waistcoat.

‘ Tell me again, Le Clinche, whether, when you went back on board after witnessing the death of the captain, Adèle was really locked up in his cabin.’

‘ Locked up, yes… ’

‘ So she couldn’t have killed him?… ’

‘ No, that wasn’t it, I swear… ’

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