| During a quiet spell in June, Maigret meets Lucas in the Brasserie Dauphine. He is with Antonio Farano, whose brother-in-law Émile Boulay, who owns night-clubs in Montmartre and on the Champs-Élysées, has disappeared. Two days later his body is found near Père Lachaise cemetery. He'd been strangled and kept somewhere for the two days. Boulay was a conscientious businessman, and there's no trace of enemies of the amateur type, who'd strangle and hold onto a body. Maigret visits the family and talks to a doorman, Mickey Boubée, but there are no clues. He interviews the accountant, Jules Raison, but there seems to be nothing in that direction either. But when he learns that Jean-Charles Gaillard, Boulay's lawyer, lives in the direction he'd headed that night, Maigret's curiosity is aroused. He starts to investigate, and learns that his car had been in for repairs between the time of the murder and the dumping of the body, and he is convinced. He calls for records of Gaillard's cases, and learns that he "picked his clients well". Maigret calls one, Gaston Mauran, in to his office, and soon learns that Gaillard had extorted an extra 1,000 francs from him, "to pay off Maigret". Meanwhile Torrence has reported that Gaillard had brought his car to a car-wash. He has the car and Gaillard brought in. Maigret is furious. He confronts Gaillard, not letting him utter a word, and has him sent off to the Depôt. The next morning he learns he'd hung himself in his cell. Boulay, upset because he'd paid 5,000 to Gaillard but still been called in to Police Headquarters for questioning, and nervous about bad publicity, had no doubt threatened to reveal the facts. Gaillard had had a gambling habit. | ||
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Plot & Themes Tone of story - Dry-cynical How difficult to spot villain? - Challenging Time/era of story: What % of story relates directly to the mystery, not the subplot? - nearly 100% Kind of investigator Kid or adult book? - Adult or Young Adult Book descript. of violence and chases - 50 % Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 30 % Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 10 % How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 10 % Crime Thriller Yes Murder Mystery (killer unknown) Yes Main Character Gender - Male Profession/status: Age: - 40's-50's Ethnicity/Race Unusual characteristics: Main Adversary Identity: - Male Age: - 40's-50's Profession/status: Motive of antagonist - money/treasure How sensitive is this character? Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters Setting Europe Yes European country: - France Writing Style Accounts of torture and death? - moderately detailed references to deaths Unusual forms of death - hanging Unusual form of death? Yes Amount of dialog - significantly more descript than dialog |
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