Maigret's Dead Man (22 page)

‘Thank you very much.'

Louis walked close behind them and shut the heavy
door after them.

Disconcerted and slightly anxious, they were all
alone on the left-hand pavement of Rue Chaptal. Maigret turned round automatically towards the
patch of oil on the wooden paving, as if to grasp at something tangible in spite of
everything.

‘I swear I hadn't been
drinking.'

‘I believe you.'

‘And I'm not mad.'

‘Most certainly not.'

‘Do you think this is going to get you into
trouble? I vaguely heard …'

That night, Maigret was wearing his first-ever
tailcoat for the first time. It was a little tight under the arms.