Maigret's Failure Read online

Page 14

‘What shall we do this afternoon?’

  ‘Let’s go for a walk down Boulevard Haussmann and thereabouts.’

  She didn’t protest, didn’t ask him why. They enjoyed a leisurely lunch without having to look at the clock, sat in front of the open window, and this was a rare treat. Even the noise of Paris was different from usual. Instead of the familiar cacophony they could make out distinct sounds, such as a taxi turning a street corner or a lorry pulling up outside a house.

  ‘Are you taking a nap?’

  ‘No.’

  While she did the washing-up and got changed, he went out again to buy the evening papers. The case now merited banner headlines.

  A new Petiot affair

  A woman found dead in a cupboard

  Two doctors questioned

  The best of the articles, written by young Lassagne, one of the sharpest reporters around, said:

  A criminal affair that will resound far and wide and will no doubt have many more surprises in store has shattered the calm of one of Paris’s most elegant streets, Boulevard Haussmann, between Rue de Miromesnil and Rue de Courcelles.

  Despite the lamentable reluctance on the part of the police to pass on any information, we have been able, through our own investigations, to establish the following facts:

  The third floor of 137A Boulevard Haussmann has been occupied for the last five years by Doctor Philippe Jave, 44, along with his wife and three-year-old daughter.

  The Javes occupy both apartments on this floor, one of them serving as a waiting room and luxurious consultation rooms, for the doctor’s patients are drawn from the most elegant strata of society, and many figure in Who’s Who.

  On 1 July the Jave family, accompanied by their child’s nurse, left Paris on a six-week holiday in Cannes, where they had rented the Villa Marie-Thérèse.

  On the same day, a young doctor, Doctor Négrel, took his colleague’s place during consulting hours.

  Normally, apart from the nurse, the Javes have two maids. One of them, who has family in Normandy, took her holiday at the same time as her employers, and only Josépha Chauvet, 51, stayed on in Paris.

  As the residential apartment was empty, she only had to take care of the surgery.

  Doctor Négrel, a bachelor living in furnished rooms in Rue des Saints-Pères, came every morning at nine o’clock, took note of any phone calls, went on his rounds, had his lunch in a restaurant and, at two o’clock, returned to Boulevard Haussmann for afternoon surgery.

  Around six o’clock he was free from his duties, and Josépha Chauvet took the opportunity to go to her daughter’s, where she usually spent the night. She lives in the neighbourhood, Rue Washington.

  So what happened? Because the police are keeping such a tight lip, it is difficult to reconstitute the chain of events, but a certain number of facts can be established.

  Last Saturday Doctor Négrel left the surgery at Boulevard Haussmann at 5.30; Josépha was still there. During the course of that afternoon he had seen a half-dozen patients, but no one in the building had spotted any unusual comings or goings.

  On Sunday Doctor Négrel visited friends in the country while Josépha spent the day with her daughter in Rue Washington, only returning on Monday morning at eight o’clock.

  She began, as usual, by vacuuming the waiting room.

  It was only when she reached the third room that she was struck by an unusual smell, which she described as ‘sickly and disgusting’, though she wasn’t unduly concerned at first.

  Finally, a few minutes before nine, intrigued, she opened the door to a fourth, much smaller room, which had been converted into a laboratory. That was where the smell was coming from – or, more precisely, it was coming from a cupboard.

  The cupboard was locked. The key wasn’t in the lock. As Josépha was examining the cupboard she heard some footsteps behind her. Turning round, she saw Doctor Négrel arriving.

  Did she give a start? Did she turn pale? The indirect witness accounts that we have gathered are contradictory on this point. He allegedly said to her:

  ‘What are you doing here?’

  She reportedly replied:

  ‘Can’t you smell it?’

  Apparently she thought it was a dead rat.

  ‘Did Doctor Jave leave you any keys?’

  Of course, we are simply piecing together the facts the best we can. A few minutes later Josépha left the building to go to fetch a locksmith on Rue de Miromesnil and she returned with him.

  As he read this, Maigret wondered where Lassagne could have dug up all these details. It wouldn’t have been Josépha who talked to him, he would swear to that. Still less Doctor Négrel. The concierge? It was possible. Maybe, later, the locksmith? He read on:

  When they finally got the door to the cupboard open, the sight that met them was that of a completely naked woman, who had been bent double to squeeze her into the narrow space.

  In the absence of Detective Chief Inspector Maigret it was Inspector Janvier who arrived on the scene, followed by the pathologist from the prosecutor’s office, while the press, for reasons we have so far been unable to ascertain, were kept at a distance. There was no difficulty in identifying the body, as it was that of Madame Jave herself, whom everyone believed to be in Cannes.

  Apart from a bruise on the right temple, which could have been caused by a fall, the body displayed no signs of violence.

  Doctor Négrel claims not to have seen Madame Jave either on Saturday or on any other day since 1 July, when Doctor Jave and his wife set off for Cannes.

  Josépha has apparently made the same statement.

  So how was the young woman killed? And when? We believe that the pathologist places the time of death on Saturday.

  At midday on Monday Doctor Jave was informed by telephone and caught a plane to Paris from Nice.

  He spent the night, along with Doctor Négrel, at the Police Judiciaire. We have no details of their statements.

  Even this morning the police refused to confirm whether either of the two men has been arrested.

  Examining Magistrate Coméliau is in charge of the case, but he has been even less forthcoming than Inspector Janvier.

  Our correspondent in Cannes has tried to make contact with the nurse, Mademoiselle Jusserand, who stayed down there with the child, but he was unable to gain access to the villa, which has already been visited twice by the Flying Squad.

  Clearly, this is one of the most mysterious cases of recent years, and there will no doubt be further dramatic developments.

  Who killed Madame Jave? And why? Why was her completely naked body stashed in a cupboard behind her husband’s consultation room?

  While we await the repercussions that will inevitably follow, we are able to provide some information about the characters involved in this drama.

  Doctor Philippe Jave, 44, was born in Poitiers. After successful studies at the École de Médecine in Paris, he became a hospital trainee.

  Prior to his marriage, he practised in Issy-les-Moulineaux. His surgery was a modest one, and his patients were mainly workers from the nearby factory.

  Five years ago he married Éveline Le Guérec, sixteen years his junior, who was therefore twenty-eight at the time of her death.

  The Le Guérec family own a canning plant in Concarneau: housewives will be very familiar with the ‘Le Guérec et Laurent’ brand of sardines.

  Soon after the marriage the newlyweds moved to a luxury apartment on Boulevard Haussmann, and Doctor Jave quickly established himself as one of the most sought-after doctors in the capital.

  Two years later, Monsieur Le Guérec Senior died, leaving the family business to his son Yves and his daughter.

  The Javes have a three-year-old daughter, Michèle.

  As for Doctor Négrel, he too is a talented doctor. Aged thirty, he is a bachelor and still occupies his student rooms on Rue des Saints-Pères, where he leads a modest life.

  He has not set up in practice but works with Professor Lebier. This is the first time h
e has agreed to stand in as a locum for one of his colleagues.

  We have tried to establish whether the Javes and Doctor Négrel were on friendly terms prior to this arrangement, but we have received no reply to our inquiries.

  At every turn – be it Quai des Orfèvres, Boulevard Haussmann or within the medical profession – we come up against a strange wall of silence.

  Even the concierge has been unforthcoming and is merely willing to affirm that she was unaware that Madame Jave was in the building.

  However, our correspondent on the Côte d’Azur has uncovered some information, albeit slim pickings. On Saturday morning at Nice airport a passenger corresponding to the description of Madame Jave was reportedly seen boarding the 9.15 plane, due to arrive at Paris Orly at 11.15. The airline refuses to confirm whether or not her name appears on the passenger list.

  At the time of going to press, Doctor Paul is conducting a post-mortem.

  When Maigret got back home he carefully cut out the article and slipped it inside a manilla folder, as he did when he was opening a file at Quai des Orfèvres. Except that, in the office, his files would contain original, authentic documents, whereas here he had to be content with more or less fictionalized cuttings from newspapers.

  ‘Are you ready, Madame Maigret?’

  She emerged from the bedroom dressed in a light cotton dress, a small white hat on her head and white gloves on her hands, and as they walked along the street arm in arm they looked every inch like a couple on their holidays.

  ‘You seem to be starting to enjoy yourself,’ she remarked with a sidelong glance in his direction.

  He didn’t reply but merely smiled, not thinking about poor Madame Jave but imagining Janvier at the sharp end of this case, which he must be dead set on solving all on his own.

  THE BEGINNING

  Let the conversation begin …

  Follow the Penguin Twitter.com@penguinUKbooks

  Keep up-to-date with all our stories YouTube.com/penguinbooks

  Pin ‘Penguin Books’ to your Pinterest

  Like ‘Penguin Books’ on Facebook.com/penguinbooks

  Listen to Penguin at SoundCloud.com/penguin-books

  Find out more about the author and

  discover more stories like this at Penguin.co.uk

  PENGUIN CLASSICS

  UK | USA | Canada | Ireland | Australia

  India | New Zealand | South Africa

  Penguin Books is part of the Penguin Random House group of companies whose addresses can be found at global.penguinrandomhouse.com

  First published in French as Un échec de Maigret by Presses de la Cité 1956

  This translation first published 2017

  Copyright © Georges Simenon Limited, 1956

  Translation copyright © William Hobson, 2017

  GEORGES SIMENON ® Simenon.tm

  MAIGRET ® Georges Simenon Limited

  All rights reserved

  The moral rights of the author and translator have been asserted

  Cover photograph (detail) © Harry Gruyaert/Magnum Photos

  Front cover design by Alceu Chiesorin Nunes

  ISBN: 978-0-241-30380-1

 

 

 


    The Snow Was Dirty Read onlineThe Snow Was DirtyMaigret and the Tramp Read onlineMaigret and the TrampMaigret's Anger Read onlineMaigret's AngerMaigret and the Loner Read onlineMaigret and the LonerThe Krull House Read onlineThe Krull HouseMaigret's Pickpocket Read onlineMaigret's PickpocketMaigret and the Saturday Caller Read onlineMaigret and the Saturday CallerMaigret and Monsieur Charles Read onlineMaigret and Monsieur CharlesMaigret Hesitates Read onlineMaigret HesitatesMaigret and the Ghost Read onlineMaigret and the GhostMaigret and the Killer Read onlineMaigret and the KillerMaigret's Patience Read onlineMaigret's PatienceMaigret and the Nahour Case Read onlineMaigret and the Nahour CaseMaigret's Childhood Friend Read onlineMaigret's Childhood FriendMaigret and the Good People of Montparnasse Read onlineMaigret and the Good People of MontparnasseMaigret and the Lazy Burglar Read onlineMaigret and the Lazy BurglarMaigret and the Wine Merchant Read onlineMaigret and the Wine MerchantMaigret and the Headless Corpse Read onlineMaigret and the Headless CorpseA Crime in Holland Read onlineA Crime in HollandMaigret's Dead Man Read onlineMaigret's Dead ManThe Late Monsieur Gallet Read onlineThe Late Monsieur GalletMaigret and the Old People Read onlineMaigret and the Old PeopleMaigret's Holiday Read onlineMaigret's HolidayLiberty Bar Read onlineLiberty BarThe Misty Harbour Read onlineThe Misty HarbourThe Madman of Bergerac Read onlineThe Madman of BergeracMaigret's Mistake Read onlineMaigret's MistakeMaigret's Madwoman Read onlineMaigret's MadwomanMonsieur Monde Vanishes Read onlineMonsieur Monde VanishesAct of Passion Read onlineAct of PassionThe Two-Penny Bar Read onlineThe Two-Penny BarDirty Snow Read onlineDirty SnowMaigret at the Coroner's Read onlineMaigret at the Coroner'sFélicie Read onlineFélicieMaigret in Court Read onlineMaigret in CourtMaigret and the Old Lady Read onlineMaigret and the Old LadyThe Hand Read onlineThe HandThe Little Man From Archangel Read onlineThe Little Man From ArchangelMaigret's Memoirs Read onlineMaigret's MemoirsMaigret and the Man on the Bench Read onlineMaigret and the Man on the BenchThe Grand Banks Café Read onlineThe Grand Banks CaféPietr the Latvian Read onlinePietr the LatvianMaigret and the Dead Girl Read onlineMaigret and the Dead GirlMaigret and the Minister Read onlineMaigret and the MinisterThe Man Who Watched the Trains Go By Read onlineThe Man Who Watched the Trains Go ByInspector Cadaver Read onlineInspector CadaverMaigret and the Reluctant Witnesses Read onlineMaigret and the Reluctant WitnessesFriend of Madame Maigret Read onlineFriend of Madame MaigretMaigret, Lognon and the Gangsters Read onlineMaigret, Lognon and the GangstersLock No. 1 Read onlineLock No. 1When I Was Old Read onlineWhen I Was OldThe Blue Room Read onlineThe Blue RoomThe Dancer at the Gai-Moulin Read onlineThe Dancer at the Gai-MoulinThe Train Read onlineThe TrainMaigret Takes a Room Read onlineMaigret Takes a RoomMadame Maigret's Friend Read onlineMadame Maigret's FriendMaigret Enjoys Himself Read onlineMaigret Enjoys HimselfMaigret and the Man on the Boulevard Read onlineMaigret and the Man on the BoulevardThe Carter of ’La Providence’ Read onlineThe Carter of ’La Providence’The President Read onlineThe PresidentThe Cellars of the Majestic Read onlineThe Cellars of the MajesticMaigret at Picratt's Read onlineMaigret at Picratt'sMaigret 51 Maigret Travels Read onlineMaigret 51 Maigret TravelsMy Friend Maigret Read onlineMy Friend MaigretMaigret Read onlineMaigretMaigret's Failure Read onlineMaigret's FailureMaigret's Revolver Read onlineMaigret's RevolverThe Night at the Crossroads Read onlineThe Night at the CrossroadsThe Flemish House Read onlineThe Flemish HouseMaigret Gets Angry Read onlineMaigret Gets AngryMaigret's Doubts Read onlineMaigret's DoubtsMaigret is Afraid Read onlineMaigret is AfraidMaigret Travels Read onlineMaigret TravelsPedigree Read onlinePedigreeMaigret's Secret Read onlineMaigret's SecretMaigret in New York Read onlineMaigret in New YorkMaigret's Doubts (Inspector Maigret) Read onlineMaigret's Doubts (Inspector Maigret)Sunday Read onlineSundayThe Hanged Man of Saint-Pholien Read onlineThe Hanged Man of Saint-PholienThe Yellow Dog Read onlineThe Yellow DogThree Bedrooms in Manhattan Read onlineThree Bedrooms in ManhattanMaigret Goes to School Read onlineMaigret Goes to SchoolThree Bedrooms in Manhattan (New York Review Books Classics) Read onlineThree Bedrooms in Manhattan (New York Review Books Classics)The Hotel Majestic Read onlineThe Hotel MajesticMaigret and the Tall Woman Read onlineMaigret and the Tall WomanThe Judge's House Read onlineThe Judge's HouseMaigret 53 Maigret and the Reluctant Witnesses Read onlineMaigret 53 Maigret and the Reluctant WitnessesSigned, Picpus Read onlineSigned, PicpusMaigret: The Shadow in the Courtyard (1987) Read onlineMaigret: The Shadow in the Courtyard (1987)Cécile is Dead Read onlineCécile is DeadMr Hire's Engagement Read onlineMr Hire's EngagementMaigret's First Case Read onlineMaigret's First CaseMaigret Sets a Trap Read onlineMaigret Sets a Trap