Maigret Enjoys Himself: Inspector Maigret #50 by Simenon Georges

Author:Simenon, Georges [Simenon, Georges]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Mystery, Crime, thriller
ISBN: 9780141985886
Amazon: 0141985887
Goodreads: 60100379
Publisher: Penguin
Published: 1957-01-01T08:00:00+00:00

At this point Janvier had come out with a tendentious comment that would annoy millions of female readers.

‘Don’t all women listen at doors?’

‘Is her evidence trustworthy?’

‘Up until now we have been able to verify everything she said, or almost.’

‘Was the doctor having an affair in Paris?’

‘Yes. More than an affair, in fact. You might even call it a grand passion.’

‘Did his wife know about it?’

‘Officially, no.’

‘But Mademoiselle Jusserand was in the know?’

‘Apparently.’

‘Anyone else?’

‘Josépha.’

‘Why?’

‘Because Jave’s lover was Antoinette, her daughter, who lives in Rue Washington, just a short distance from the apartment in Boulevard Haussmann.’

‘And Josépha was happy to go along with this?’

‘Yes.’

Inspector Janvier then filled in the whole sorry tale. About two years ago, Antoinette Chauvet, Josépha’s daughter, who was working as a shop assistant on the Grands Boulevards, started showing symptoms of tuberculosis, and Doctor Jave offered to take her in his care.

It is worth mentioning in passing that the girl has a strong physical resemblance to Madame Jave: like her, she is rather thin, with a tired-looking face and fearful eyes.

Jave got into the habit of going to see her at Rue Washington. As she needed complete rest he helped to support her and even sent her off for two months in the country.

When she returned, the visits continued, and two years later they are still happening.

Because of this situation certain people have described her as a girl of loose morals. Indeed, after she was cured, she didn’t go back to work, and whenever he had a spare moment between visits, Doctor Jave dashed over to Rue Washington.

‘Even when Josépha was there?’

‘Even when Josépha was there. As far as she is concerned, Jave is some sort of demigod who is entitled to whatever he likes.’

‘So on Saturday it was Antoinette Chauvet he was rushing to see?’

‘The concierge in Rue Washington has confirmed it, as she saw him arrive no more than three-quarters of an hour after the plane from London landed at Orly.’

‘How long did he stay?’

‘Wait a minute. Josépha wasn’t there at the time, so we only have Antoinette’s evidence to go on. According to her, Jave didn’t set off from Rue Washington until seven o’clock in the evening, leaving just enough time, given how much traffic there was at that hour, to catch the 7.55 train at Gare de Lyon.’

‘And Josépha?’

‘She still maintains that she left Boulevard Haussmann shortly after Doctor Négrel, at around six o’clock, and went to see her daughter.’

‘Where she found Jave?’

‘Yes.’

‘And she stayed with the pair of them until seven o’clock?’

‘That’s what she says.’

‘So Jave has an alibi?’

Inspector Janvier wasn’t so certain. Given how devoted both Antoinette and her mother were towards the doctor, their evidence can surely be regarded as suspect. On the other hand, the concierge, who saw Jave arrive, didn’t see him leave. However, around this time she was out at a local grocer’s, and her lodge was empty for about fifteen to twenty minutes.

Assuming Philippe Jave left Rue Washington around seven o’clock, did that leave him enough time

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