The Grand Banks Café by Georges Simenon

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     four of them sat down on the hotel terrace under the striped umbrellas, which exuded
     the customary festive air.
    Hot chocolate steamed in two cups.
     Maigret had ordered a beer and Le Clinche a brandy and soda.
    They talked about Jorissen, the teacher
     from Quimper who had written to Maigret on behalf of the wireless operator and had
     brought Marie Léonnec with him. They said the usual things:
    â€˜You won’t find a better man anywhere
     …’
    They embroidered on this theme, not out
     of conviction, but because they had to say something. Suddenly, Maigret blinked,
     then focused on a couple now walking towards them along the breakwater.
    It was Adèle and Gaston Buzier. He
     slouched, hands in pockets, his boater tilted on the back of his head, seemingly
     unconcerned, while she was as animated and as eye-catching as ever.
    â€˜As long as she doesn’t spot
     us …!’ the inspector thought.
    But at that very moment, Adèle’s
     eye caught his. She stopped and said something to her companion, who tried to
     dissuade her.
    Too late! She was already crossing the
     road. She looked around at all the tables in turn, chose the one nearest to the
     Maigrets, then sat down so that she was facing Marie Léonnec.
    Her boyfriend followed with a shrug,
     touched the brim of his boater as he passed in front of the inspector and sat
     astride a chair.
    â€˜What are you having?’
    â€˜Not hot chocolate, that’s
     for sure. A kümmel.’
    What was that if not a declaration of
     war? When she mentioned chocolate, she was staring at Marie Léonnec’s cup.
     Maigret saw the girl flinch.
    She had never seen Adèle. But surely the
     penny had dropped? She glanced across at Le Clinche, who looked away.
    Madame Maigret’s foot nudged her
     husband’s twice.
    â€˜What say the four of us walk over
     to the Casino.’
    She too had worked it out. But no one answered. Only
     Adèle at the next table said anything.
    â€˜It’s so hot!’ she
     sighed. ‘Take my jacket, Gaston.’
    She removed her suit jacket and was
     revealed in pink silk, opulently sensual and bare-armed. She did not take her eyes
     off the girl for an instant.
    â€˜Do you like grey? Don’t you
     think they should ban people from wearing miserable colours on the beach?’
    It was so obvious. Marie Léonnec was
     wearing grey. But Adèle was demonstrating her intention to go on the attack, by any
     means and without wasting any time.
    â€˜Waiter! Shift yourself! I
     can’t wait all day.’
    Her voice was shrill. And it sounded as
     if she was deliberately exaggerating its coarseness.
    Gaston Buzier scented danger. He knew
     Adèle of old. He muttered a few words to her. But she replied in a very loud
     voice:
    â€˜So what? They can’t stop
     anyone sitting on this terrace. It’s a free country!’
    Madame Maigret was the only one with her
     back to her. Maigret and the wireless operator sat sideways on but Marie Léonnec
     faced her directly.
    â€˜We’re all as good as
     everybody else, isn’t that right? Only there’s some people who trail
     round after you when you’re too busy to see them and then won’t give you
     the time of day when they’re in company.’
    And she laughed. Such an unpleasant
     laugh! She stared at the girl, whose face flushed bright red.
    â€˜Waiter! What do I owe you?’
     asked Buzier, who was anxious to put a stop to this.
    â€˜We’ve got plenty of time! Same again,
     waiter. And bring me some peanuts.’
    â€˜We don’t have
     any.’
    â€˜Well go and get some!
     That’s what you’re paid for, isn’t it?’
    There were people at two other tables.
     They all stared at the new couple, who could not go unnoticed. Maigret began to
     worry. He wanted of course to put an end to a scene which might turn nasty.
    On the other hand, the wireless operator
     was