Chief Inspector Maigret Visits London by Margaret de Rohan

in Paris for further treatment, followed by physiotherapy.’
    â€˜Mrs Lisle will go with you?’
    There was another long sigh. ‘No, she will not, Chief Inspector. And that’s a very sore point with me, so best not to pursue the matter. But now I must say
au revoir,
because I understand that a car has arrived to take me, and my former wife, to the morgue for the formal identification of Serge Vachon’s body. It is a responsibility that I do not relish, but I must go with her.’
    â€˜I wish you luck, Chief Inspector Maigret.’
    â€˜Thank you. I have a feeling I might need it.’
    But, in fact, Nicole Vachon behaved impeccably from the moment she saw Philippe Maigret. There were no more histrionics and very few tears, except when she had to say the words, ‘yes, this is my husband Serge Vachon.’ Then the tears began to slide silently down her cheeks, and she swayed a little, as if she might faint again. Philippe put his arms around her to hold her steady, and was rewarded with a teary smile.
    â€˜
Merci ,
Philippe,’ she whispered, then turned on her heel, and walked quickly out of the room.
    Later that day Philippe again tried to convince Megan that she should return to Paris with him, but she would not.
    â€˜But why won’t you come?’ he asked. ‘Jacques will stay on with Max and his family, even though we know Nicole was not threatening him, because her dog’s name really
is
Max. So everyone will be safe, but I’ll be unhappy, because I’ll be in Paris, while you’re in London.’
    â€˜There’s still the counterfeit money Max found, and the man who’s been asking questions about him. And that’s a big worry.’
    â€˜Jacques will take care of that – that’s why he’s staying in London, so there’s no reason why you can’t come.’
    â€˜It’s only for a little while, Philippe. Then I’ll be in Paris all the time. I can’t leave London yet, not while I’m worried about Max. It’s his half term, the week after next, and I’ve been thinking I might try to bring him to Paris with me, as I did with Celia.’
    â€˜Oh, I see,’ said Philippe, pleased by this unexpected news. ‘And of course I have plenty of space in my apartment for both of you.’
    â€˜No, love. I wouldn’t stay with you this time, not with Max. It wouldn’t be right. I thought we’d stay at the Hotel Celeste again. It’s good there, and the people are… ’
    â€˜Megan, Megan, Megan,’ he sighed, shaking his head. ‘Do you want to break my mother’s heart? It’s bad enough that you don’t want to stay with me… ’
    â€˜I didn’t stay that I didn’t
want
to stay with you; just that it wouldn’t be appropriate with… ’
    â€˜It was appropriate enough before.’ ‘Yes… well… that was then, and this is now. Things change, Philippe.’
    â€˜Apparently so.’
    Oh dear, it looks like another dark mood is about to descend on him, she thought. ‘However, I would be happy to stay with Louise, if that would not be inconvenient for her,’ she said quickly.
    â€˜Bon.
So it’s all settled then, you know
maman
will be delighted to have you stay. She looks on you as the daughter she never had,’ he said, perking up immediately.
    I can see I’ll have to nip this tendency for emotional blackmail in the bud sometime, Megan thought. But it will have to wait. We have enough to deal with right now.
    â€˜There’s one more thing I don’t understand about this whole conspiracy, and counterfeit money business,’ she said as they were about to eat their dinner. ‘If Serge was killed, and an attempt was made on Nicole’s life, just because she passed two of the notes in Little Venice, how come this James Evremond did the same thing and yet he’s still alive?’
    â€˜Maybe