May 6th. Three appointments—two probates and a divorce. He’d had about enough of this stupid way of earning a living. A shopkeeper could simply put up his shutters and take a day off. Any number of days. For politeness’ sake, he stuck up a little notice: Fermé pour cause de mobilisation, or any other reason he liked to invent, and no one cared two hoots. But clients were different to customers. They had rights—the right to ring you up at any hour of the day. And they would. He’d have to listen attentively, making notes. And the one at Orléans would once again press Flavières to go and see him. Then in the late afternoon, Gévigne would ring up or call round to see him. He was exacting. You couldn’t get rid of the man till you’d told him every single detail. Sitting at his desk, Flavières opened the Dossier Gévigne and went idly through the diary of the last few days. April 27th. Walk in the Bois de Boulogne. 28th. Paramount Cinema. 29th. Outing.
