Maigret and the Man on the Boulevard Read Online Free Page A

murdered in an alleyway off the Boulevard Saint-Martin. She had planned her life in every detail, and not only her own life but also that of her family, and murder had no place in her scheme of things, especially this murder, with the corpse wearing brown shoes, and a tie that might almost be described as red!
    As for Monique, though she seemed on the whole a sensible girl, she was obviously apprehensive. There would be questions that she would prefer not to answer, and revelations that she would prefer not to hear.
    â€œDid you know your father well?”
    â€œBut…of course.”
    â€œOf course you knew him in the way that most children know their parents. What I mean is, were you and he in one another’s confidence? Did he ever talk to you about his private life and private thoughts?”
    â€œHe was a good father.”
    â€œWas he a happy man?”
    â€œI suppose so.”
    â€œDid you and he ever meet in town?”
    â€œI don’t understand. Do you mean did we ever run into one another in the street?”
    â€œYou both worked in Paris. I know you didn’t go to work or return home on the same train.”
    â€œWe kept different office hours.”
    â€œYou might have met for lunch, occasionally.”
    â€œWe did sometimes.”
    â€œOften?”
    â€œNo, not very often.”
    â€œUsed to go and fetch him from the shop?”
    She hesitated.
    â€œNo. We would meet in some restaurant or other.”
    â€œDid you ever telephone him at work?”
    â€œNot as far as I can remember.”
    â€œWhen did you last meet for lunch?”
    â€œSeveral months ago. Before the summer holidays.”
    â€œWhereabouts?”
    â€œAt La Chope Alsacienne in the Boulevard Sébastopol.”
    â€œDid your mother know?”
    â€œI daresay I mentioned it to her. I don’t remember.”
    â€œWas your father of a cheerful disposition?”
    â€œFairly cheerful, I think.”
    â€œHow was his health?”
    â€œI’ve never known him to be ill.”
    â€œHad he many friends?”
    â€œWe saw hardly anyone, apart from my aunts and uncles.”
    â€œHave you many?”
    â€œTwo aunts and two uncles.”
    â€œDo they all live in Juvisy?”
    â€œYes. Not very far from us. It was my Uncle Albert, my Aunt Jeanne’s husband, who told me of my father’s death. My Aunt Céline’s house is a little further away.”
    â€œAre they both sisters of your mother?”
    â€œYes. And Aunt Céline’s husband, my Uncle Julien, also works on the railways.”
    â€œIs there a man in your life, Mademoiselle Monique?”
    She looked a little flustered.
    â€œSurely, this is no time to go into that. Don’t you want me to see my father?”
    â€œWhat do you mean?”
    â€œI understood from my uncle that I would be required to identify his body.”
    â€œYour mother and your aunt have already done that. However, if you wish to…”
    â€œNo. I presume I shall see him when he’s brought home.”
    â€œJust one more thing, Mademoiselle Monique. When you met your father in town for lunch, can you remember if you ever saw him wearing brown shoes?”
    She didn’t answer at once. To gain time, she repeated:
    â€œBrown shoes?”
    â€œWell, very light brown would perhaps be a better description, what, in my day, if you’ll pardon the expression, used to be called goose-dung shoes.”
    â€œI can’t remember.”
    â€œDid you ever see him wearing a red tie?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œWhen did you last go to the cinema?”
    â€œYesterday afternoon.”
    â€œHere in town?”
    â€œIn Juvisy.”
    â€œI won’t keep you any longer. I hope you haven’t missed the last train.”
    â€œIt leaves in thirty-five minutes.”
    She glanced at her wristwatch, and stood up. There was a pause.
    â€œGood night,” she said, at last.
    â€œGood night,