Read Online A Crime in Holland by Georges Simenon - Free Book Online
Authors: Georges Simenon
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of club membership, to play billiards or skittles.
âWell, two weeks ago, by eleven at night, Popinga was quite drunk. In the same week, his wife had been organizing collections to buy clothes for the native peoples in the East Indies. And there was Popinga, with his red cheeks and shiny eyes, saying: âWaste of time! They look much better with no clothes on! Instead of buying clothes for them, we should do as they do â¦â
âWell, of course youâre smiling. A silly remark that means nothing at all. But the scandal is still raging, and if Popingaâs funeral is held in Delfzijl, some people will avoid going to it.
âAnd thatâs just one little incident. Plenty more where that came from! As I said, every one of the seams of Popingaâs uniform of respectability was bursting open. Just try to work out what a sin it is here to get drunk! And his pupils had seen him in that state. That was probably why they were so fond of him!
âAnd now, try to imagine the atmosphere in that house on the banks of the Amsterdiep. Think of Madame Popinga and Any.
âLook out of the window. On both sides you can see to the edge of the town. Itâs tiny. Everyone knows everyone else. Scandal takes about an hour to reach the entire
population. Including Popingaâs relations with the man they call the Baes, and who is a kind of brigand, I have to say. They went seal-hunting together. And Popinga used to knock back spirits on Oostingâs boat.
âIâm not asking you to come to a conclusion right away. I would just repeat this sentence:
if the crime was committed by someone in the house, the whole house is guilty
.
âThen there is that silly little girl, Beetje. Popinga never missed a chance of seeing her home. Shall I give you an idea of what sheâs like? Beetje is the only female round here who goes swimming every day, and not wearing a decent bathing-dress with a skirt, like all the other ladies, but in a skin-tight costume. Bright red, whatâs more!
âIâll let you carry on with your inquiries. I just wanted to give you a few elements that the police tend to overlook.
âAs for Cornelius Barens, as I see it, heâs part of the family, on the female side.
âSo on one hand, if you like, you have Madame Popinga, her sister Any and Cornelius. On the other, Beetje, Oosting and Popinga. If you have understood what Iâve told you, you might get somewhere.â
âCan I ask you a question?â said Maigret gravely.
âYes, Iâm listening.â
âAre you a Protestant too?â
âI am, yes, but I donât belong to the
Dutch
Reformed Church. It isnât the same â¦â
âSo which side of the barricades are you on?â
âI didnât like Popinga â¦â
âSo â¦â
âI disapprove of crime, of whatever kind.â
âDidnât he play jazz music and dance while you were talking to the ladies?â
âThatâs another aspect of his character that I didnât think to tell you about.â
Maigret looked splendidly serious, solemn indeed, as he stood up, saying:
âSo in sum, who do you advise me to arrest?â
Professor Duclos gave a start.
âI didnât mention arresting anyone. I have given you some general indications in the realm of pure ideas, if I may say so.â
âOf course. But in my place â¦?â
âIâm not the police. I am looking for truth for truthâs sake and even the fact that I am myself under suspicion is not capable of influencing my judgement.â
âSo I shouldnât arrest anyone?â
âI didnât say that, I â¦â
âThank you,â said Maigret, extending his hand.
And he tapped his glass with a coin to call Madame Van Hasselt over. Duclos looked at him disapprovingly.
âNot the kind of thing one should do here,â he murmured. âAt least not if you
âWell, two weeks ago, by eleven at night, Popinga was quite drunk. In the same week, his wife had been organizing collections to buy clothes for the native peoples in the East Indies. And there was Popinga, with his red cheeks and shiny eyes, saying: âWaste of time! They look much better with no clothes on! Instead of buying clothes for them, we should do as they do â¦â
âWell, of course youâre smiling. A silly remark that means nothing at all. But the scandal is still raging, and if Popingaâs funeral is held in Delfzijl, some people will avoid going to it.
âAnd thatâs just one little incident. Plenty more where that came from! As I said, every one of the seams of Popingaâs uniform of respectability was bursting open. Just try to work out what a sin it is here to get drunk! And his pupils had seen him in that state. That was probably why they were so fond of him!
âAnd now, try to imagine the atmosphere in that house on the banks of the Amsterdiep. Think of Madame Popinga and Any.
âLook out of the window. On both sides you can see to the edge of the town. Itâs tiny. Everyone knows everyone else. Scandal takes about an hour to reach the entire
population. Including Popingaâs relations with the man they call the Baes, and who is a kind of brigand, I have to say. They went seal-hunting together. And Popinga used to knock back spirits on Oostingâs boat.
âIâm not asking you to come to a conclusion right away. I would just repeat this sentence:
if the crime was committed by someone in the house, the whole house is guilty
.
âThen there is that silly little girl, Beetje. Popinga never missed a chance of seeing her home. Shall I give you an idea of what sheâs like? Beetje is the only female round here who goes swimming every day, and not wearing a decent bathing-dress with a skirt, like all the other ladies, but in a skin-tight costume. Bright red, whatâs more!
âIâll let you carry on with your inquiries. I just wanted to give you a few elements that the police tend to overlook.
âAs for Cornelius Barens, as I see it, heâs part of the family, on the female side.
âSo on one hand, if you like, you have Madame Popinga, her sister Any and Cornelius. On the other, Beetje, Oosting and Popinga. If you have understood what Iâve told you, you might get somewhere.â
âCan I ask you a question?â said Maigret gravely.
âYes, Iâm listening.â
âAre you a Protestant too?â
âI am, yes, but I donât belong to the
Dutch
Reformed Church. It isnât the same â¦â
âSo which side of the barricades are you on?â
âI didnât like Popinga â¦â
âSo â¦â
âI disapprove of crime, of whatever kind.â
âDidnât he play jazz music and dance while you were talking to the ladies?â
âThatâs another aspect of his character that I didnât think to tell you about.â
Maigret looked splendidly serious, solemn indeed, as he stood up, saying:
âSo in sum, who do you advise me to arrest?â
Professor Duclos gave a start.
âI didnât mention arresting anyone. I have given you some general indications in the realm of pure ideas, if I may say so.â
âOf course. But in my place â¦?â
âIâm not the police. I am looking for truth for truthâs sake and even the fact that I am myself under suspicion is not capable of influencing my judgement.â
âSo I shouldnât arrest anyone?â
âI didnât say that, I â¦â
âThank you,â said Maigret, extending his hand.
And he tapped his glass with a coin to call Madame Van Hasselt over. Duclos looked at him disapprovingly.
âNot the kind of thing one should do here,â he murmured. âAt least not if you
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