The Crook among the Legitimists Arriving for the second time at the Hôtel de la Loire, Maigret responded without warmth to Monsieur Tardivon, who received him with a confidential air, took him to his room and showed him some large yellow envelopes that had arrived for him. They contained the coroner’s report and the reports of the gendarmerie and the Nevers municipal police. The Rouen police had sent further information about the cashier Irma Strauss. ‘And that’s not all!’ said the hotel manager exultantly. ‘The sergeant from the gendarmerie came to see you. He wants you to phone him as soon as you arrive. And then there’s a woman who’s already turned up three times, no doubt because of the town crier and his sales pitch.’ ‘What woman?’ ‘Mother Canut, the wife of the gardener opposite. I told you about the little chateau, remember?’ ‘Didn’t she say anything, then?’ ‘She’s not that stupid! Since there’s a reward on offer she’s not about to give anything away, but for all that she may know something.’ Maigret had put the pink file on the table along with the photograph of Gallet.
What do You think about The Late Monsieur Gallet (2013)?
