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[ Waltz-musette music playing I]

[ Woman vocalizing ]

ANNOUNCER: It's now 10 days since

the collapse of the children's wing

at the Clairfond Sanatorium.

As France mourns, the disaster continues to take its toll

with the deaths today of a boy and girl, both aged 6.

They died without regaining consciousness,

bringing the death toll of children to 62.

[ Indistinct conversations ]

In Paris, the opposition attacked

the government inquiry

set up by Minister Auguste Point

for dragging its feet,

a claim vigorously denied by the minister,

who said again that the inquiry would call all key witnesses.

It is still unclear

whether the man who built the Clairfond Sanatorium,

M. Arthur Nicoud,

is willing to appear before the inquiry.

Bobby, is that you?

WOMAN: M. Piquemal.

The minister does have an appointment to go to.

Perhaps it would be easier if you left it with me.

Blanche, is my statement ready?

M. Point, I have to speak with you.

Minister, I've told this gentleman --

Please.

Five minutes.

Come inside.

-MME. MAIGRET: Long day? -[ Groans ]

[ Chuckles ] That bad?

Worse. I need a drink.

[ Sniffs ] Can I smell lamb?

The day's not over yet, I'm afraid.

In fact, it's not worth taking off your coat.

A telephone call.

From a minister.

What minister?

The minister of public works, I think he said.

And he telephoned you here, personally?

Mm. From a call box.

-Have I got time for a drink? -He said it was urgent.

He wants you to go to his home.

Chief Inspector, I'm sorry to disturb you

at this time of night.

Uh, did you see anyone outside as you came in?

No one.

You must think it strange,

a minister telephoning you from call box.

But I'm sure my telephone is tapped.

-Will you have one? -Thank you.

You don't like politicians, do you?

I've come to recognize that look.

I see it in the eyes of people who come to see me.

They need us, but they don't trust us.

I was there when they were pulling the bodies out.

62 children killed.

And after the floods, a whole wing collapsed.

Well, I've set up an inquiry as the minister responsible.

The minister in charge, I mean.

I didn't join the ministry until long after Clairfond was built.

I hardly knew the sanatorium existed until the disaster.

See, this should never have happened.

It was avoidable. They ignored the report.

MAIGRET: The report?

And after the disaster,

the president asked me to retrieve it.

But it wasn't in the archives. It wasn't there.

It had disappeared.

You see, Calame had virtually prophesied the disaster.

Calame?

Yes. I'm sorry.

When the Clairfond Sanatorium was first proposed,

Calame was commissioned to write a paper

on the suitability of the site and the building.

He was a professor at the School of Civil Engineering.

He died two years ago. Cancer.

This is a political matter. Why are you telling me this?

Yesterday, a man called Piquemal came to see me.

He said he'd worked with Professor Calame.

He had a copy of the report.

And he gave it to me.

And did the Calame report predict this disaster?

Yes.

If this thing were published,

there would certainly be blood on the carpet.

What do you mean, if it were published?

I read it last night.

And this morning I telephoned the president's office

and arranged to see him this afternoon.

When I told him about the report...

...he said I should bring it straight to him.

Now, no one knew I had it here.

I'd locked it in my desk, here.

Are you going to tell me it's been stolen?

Yes.

Who else has a key to this apartment?

My secretary, Mlle. Lamotte. And the concierge, of course.

And my wife, though she rarely comes to Paris.

[ Telephone rings I]

Ah, that'll be the president. I put in a call to him earlier.

Would you like me to wait outside?

No. Wait here, please.

Hello?

Yes, that's right.

Thank you.

They're connecting me.

M. Le President.

Yes.

No. No. It's gone.

Stolen. I don't know how.

No, I haven't called the police, not officially.

Well, in fact, uh, there's someone here with me.

Yes. Chief Inspector Maigret.

Certainly.

He wants to speak to you.

[ Engine turns over ]

[ Vehicle departing ]

-Won't you come to bed? -I'm not tired.

A few hours ago you were exhausted.

What is it? Don't you trust him?

He's a politician.

Something's been stolen from his apartment,

and there's no sign of any break-in.

I only have his word that something's missing.

Oh, come to bed.

It's all too neat.

Feels like an inside job.

Your holiday's due. We could go away.

It's not that straightforward, I'm afraid.

Why not?

COMELIAU: The president?

Well, under the circumstances, I could hardly refuse.

I don't want to know any more.

I may need some more men.

This is not a case for your department.

Why didn't Point contact security?

Oh, well, if you must.

They don't need to know precisely what it's about.

This is an unofficial investigation

Of course, M. Comeliau.

I'll do my best to keep your name out of it.

LUCAS: I'll tell you what --

You should keep your hands to yourself.

JANVIER: Fancied her, did you?

You looked like you were trying to dance with her.

She took a huge great chunk out of my thumb.

What was I supposed to do?

Ohh. [ Laughs ]

Something's come up.

Lapointe.

This is unofficial.

You don't mention this assignment to anyone.

The School of Civil Engineering. Do you know it?

LAPOINTE: Yeah. Rue des Saint-Péres.

MAN: Piquemal! M. Piquemall

MAIGRET: There's a teacher there called Piquemal.

I know nothing about him.

I want to know as much as possible.

Janvier.

Janvier, the minister of public works

has a secretary called Blanche Lamotte.

I want to know if she was seen at the minister's apartment

on Tuesday morning.

Lucas.

Now, look -- I want no written reports.

Say nothing to the others. You report only to me.

-Is that clear? -LUCAS: Whatever you say, Chief.

MAIGRET: Jacques Fleury,

parliamentary secretary to the minister of public works --

I want to know everything you can find out about him.

MAN: What I want to ask is,

why does the inquiry fail to ask the fundamental questions?

Why does it fail to call the key witnesses?

Are you saying the government inquiry is a whitewash?

MAN: I am saying that if I were part of the commission,

I would call those men in the government

responsible for awarding the contracts to the builder Nicoud

and I would ask them,

is it not true that the Clairfond Sanatorium was built

not because of your concern for those children

but in order to grant favors...

-Inspector Maigret? -Ah, hello.

-Jacques Fleury. -Ah.

Isn't that Charles Mascoulin?

No doubt making more trouble for the government.

LAMOTTE: He didn't seem quite right.

Something about him.

But he managed to get into the minister's office.

-Yes. -Well, I agreed to see him.

This parcel he was carrying --

Have you seen it again since then?

No.

-Look, I don't recall -- -[ Indistinct conversations ]

How long have you worked for the minister?

Oh, it must be 12 years now.

You must be very devoted to him.

I am dedicated to my work.

Dedicated enough, perhaps,

to protect him if he were in trouble?

I don't know what you mean.

I'm not sure myself.

Very difficult time for him.

I don't think I've ever seen him like this before.

-Distressing for his family? -Yes.

It's a pity his wife couldn't be here in Paris

at a time like this.

Chief Inspector, I thought you were concerned

with this man, Piquemal.

That's right.

M. Fleury comes here every day, does he?

He's a good customer, yes.

And he meets his wife here?

You mean Jacqueline? They meet here sometimes.

[ Indistinct conversations ]

Well, we were always friends, from the beginning, really.

I worked for Auguste -- the minister --

in his practice in Vanves.

And then when he was brought into the cabinet,

he was looking for a private secretary

and thought I would be the man.

Things always work out, don't you think?

Do you enjoy your work?

Hal

No. I love it.

It's ideal, really.

Oh, I like living in Paris. It suits me.

Well, thank you very much, monsieur.

You have been a great help to me.

Oh, I don't think so. I hardly saw Piquemal.

Well, I was in my office most of the time he was here.

Yes, well, if you want to speak to me again...

Thank you.

Oh, by the way, monsieur, when was the last time

you visited the minister's apartment?

Oh, um, that would have been, uh...

We do work there occasionally.

But not for several weeks.

Well, very good. Thank you.

You spoke to the president again?

I was ready to offer him my resignation, but he refused.

Said it would arouse suspicion at a difficult time.

Very few people knew you had the report.

Piquemal, of course.

Your staff.

And the president.

What are you suggesting?

Last night, as I left your apartment,

a car passed me in the street

and shone its head lamps in my face.

Oh, it's probably security.

As I told you, I'm sure my telephone is tapped.

Oh, this whole business.

We're facing a major political crisis.

See, no one's going to believe me, and who can blame them?

And it won't be long before someone asks about the report.

Lucas.

You too.

Me too, what?

This place is swarming with Maigret's lot.

So, what did you learn about Fleury?

Why should security be interested?

Oh, we're always interested in politics, Lucas.

All right. I'll tell you.

He's good company.

Always willing to pay for the drinks.

Lives on credit most of the time,

but he always pays in the end.

We all pay in the end, Catroux, one way or another.

Of course, you do know he's got a wife and two children

living in Vanves somewhere, don't you?

But he reached that age.

You know what it's like with some men.

They need something younger.

Why are you telling me all this, Catroux?

Because one day you can return the favor.

Can't wait.

JANVIER: Tuesday morning.

[ Deliberately] Tuesday morning, the minister's apartment.

Attractive woman. In her 40s.

Excuse me. She's deaf.

So I gathered.

Thank you, madame.

Do you know Mlle. Lamotte?

Visited the minister upstairs Tuesday.

Yes, good-looking. She's around here quite often.

Let me see. Tuesday.

No. I didn't see her.

Didn't see anyone.

Bobby!

Oh! That man.

What man was this?

Fat, overcoat. With a cigar. On the stairs.

People usually use the lift, you see?

Oh. Well, thank you.

MAIGRET: Mlle. Lamotte and the minister.

What do you think? Are they lovers?

If they are, they're very discreet.

[ Chuckles ]

Politicians have been known to be discreet.

[ Chuckles ]

Lucas.

-Beer? -Pernod.

Pernod.

What did you find?

Bits and bobs, this and that.

MAIGRET: Well?

Well, for a start, I'm not the only one who's tailing Fleury.

Security?

Everywhere I've been today,

the boys from the big house have been one step ahead of me.

JANVIER: Me too.

Had that creep Catroux breathing down my neck.

He found it very amusing I had no idea what was going on.

This is the case we're working on, isn't it?

Arthur Nicoud.

Isn't he the man who built Clairfond?

I've been asked by the minister of public works

to find the Calame report.

Is that why the security mob are keeping an eye on us --

to make sure we don't dig up anything incriminating?

Well, they might be.

So who wants that report to disappear?

Men in the cabinet, the people who ignored it,

and Arthur Nicoud -- maybe him above anyone else.

What about the minister?

[ Door opens I]

-[ Door closes I] -Lapointe?

-Beer? -Beer, please, yeah.

What did you find?

Well, he wasn't at work, so I went to his hotel.

He lives at the Hotel du Berry, in the Rue Jacob.

I said that I was his cousin from Marseilles.

Anyway, he wasn't there either.

But the proprietor pointed me in the direction of the café

where he has his lunch every day.

He wasn't in there today.

First time in years, apparently, that this has happened.

-Who are we talking about? -Piquemal.

Who's Piquemal?

-He didn't show up? -No.

And the porter at the School of Engineering

saw him getting into a car with someone.

-Who's Piquemal? -Description.

He's a fat bloke with a big overcoat.

-Smoking a cigar. -What?

Never uses the lift.

The same man that went up to Point's apartment

on Tuesday morning.

Who is Piquemal?

M. Piquemal.

I think we'll find he's disappeared.

CATROUX: Hello, boys.

Mme. Calame, did your husband talk to you about the report

when he was writing it?

Well, not in detail.

But I know something was troubling him about it.

Has anyone else been to see you recently?

You mean Piquemal?

When did he come?

When my husband was alive,

Piquemal was always pestering him

with things that he'd written.

He had the most absurd notions.

But Albert was always generous with his time.

After he died, I didn't see anything of Piquemal.

Not until about a week ago.

He said he wanted to find some papers

that he'd left with my husband.

Did he find them?

I have no idea.

As usual, I left him to it.

Has anyone else been to see you?

Not to the house.

They didn't ask you about the report?

Suddenly everyone wants the report.

It's a pity you weren't so interested

when Albert was alive.

-Go. Gol -[ Engine turns over ]

-Catroux. -Maigret.

I'd like to speak to Piquemal.

Don't suppose you know where he is, do you?

And you wouldn't happen to know the whereabouts

of the Calame report?

I was hoping you could tell me that.

-Mm. -[ Coughs ]

[ Sniffles ]

Sitting around street corners in a cold car.

-You'll catch pneumonia. -It's lack of sleep.

My resistance to germs is very low.

My wife keeps telling me to stay at home.

You know, you should listen to your wife.

Couple of days off.

Put my feet up, relax for awhile.

Forget all about the murky world of politics.

Hot drinks.

-Maybe read a book. -Hmm.

On second thoughts, I don't really think that's me.

-What's going on, Catroux? -I was hoping you could tell me.

How is it everywhere me and my boys go,

you seem to be one jump ahead of us?

Don't flatter me, Maigret.

We're usually the last to be told anything.

No one trusts us anymore.

Is that why they brought you in?

That's what I was hoping you could tell me.

[ Car door opens ]

-[ Car door closes I -[ Coughs ]

[ Hand pats ]

-[ Whispering ] -Mnh. Mnh.

M. Nicoud, it would seem

that the cause of this terrible tragedy

was that the concrete used

for the foundations of the building

was of, shall we say, unsuitable quality.

NICOUD: The building was sound.

We are experienced in such constructions.

The workmanship was of the best possible standard.

The materials were all first-class.

No one could have foreseen that the river would overflow.

It was a freak accident.

There is no one more distressed by this tragedy than I am.

DEPUTY: Could you tell us how you won the contract

to build the sanatorium?

NICOUD: I tendered for work like other builders.

We made a detailed proposal -- excellence at reasonable price.

Chief Inspector Maigret.

-Charles Mascoulin. -Hello.

I understand that you're conducting an investigation

in relation to the Clairfond disaster.

What makes you think that?

Well, why else would you be here?

You must be aware that there is

a great deal of public concern, outrage, surrounding this case.

I'm one of those who is concerned.

Which is why you should be careful.

In politics, things aren't quite so black and white

as they are with bank robbers and prostitutes.

Even a famous policeman like yourself wouldn't survive

if it were thought that he was part of a cover-up.

Is that what you think I'm doing?

Perhaps.

But then again, of course, you may not know it.

[ Indistinct conversations ]

Point's a decent man.

In his way.

But he has been careless in his choice of friends.

[ Camera shutter clicks ]

These children will not be forgotten.

Their deaths will not count for nothing.

Did you know that he has been a regular weekend guest

at the house of Arthur Nicoud,

and the minister's daughter has received

a number of gifts -- jewelry -- also from Nicoud?

-Who told you this? -People bring me information.

M. Maigret, 62 children

had the life crushed out of them.

The truth will come out. Let me assure you.

NICOUD: We must all work together to ensure

that this never happens again.

-If we -- -The murderer!

He is the murderer!

[ Crying ] He killed my children!

He killed my children.

Why was he not asked about his relationship

with government ministers?

Why did no one ask him about the Calame report?

[ Sobbing ]

[ Camera shutter clicks ]

Nicoud makes a habit of sending gifts

to the daughters and wives of his guests.

My daughter received a pen and a compact.

Both gold.

Have you or your wife ever received

gifts or favors from Nicoud?

-None. -Has he loaned you money?

Do you hold shares in any of his companies?

-No. -You're quite certain?

Chief Inspector, if you doubt me --

Your Excellency, I have been conducting this case

against the wishes of the examining magistrate

and at some risk to myself.

It would have helped if you'd informed me of your relationship

with Nicoud before we started.

Well, I'm sorry. It was an innocent association.

It didn't even occur to me.

Is there anything else you haven't told me?

Nothing. I assure you.

[ Knock on door ]

Newspapers, Minister.

They know about Piquemal,

that he handed the report in at a very high level.

Who told the press about Piquemal?

They're also saying that almost immediately after

he handed the report in, Piquemal disappeared.

He may have been abducted.

I'm sorry, Minister.

I thought you'd like to see these straightaway.

Yes. Thank you, Jacques.

A man was seen going up to your apartment

on Tuesday morning -- fat, smokes cigars.

Now, either he's part of a security operation

or the information's coming from inside your office.

No, I don't believe it.

I trust my people completely.

Who wants you out?

Who wants to destroy you?

Who gives security their orders?

Ultimately, the president.

Can you trust the president?

I have to.

Is that it, then?

Security are running one step in front of us,

tidying up the pieces?

Then why put us onto the trail if it's a cover-up?

Perhaps so they can say, if Maigret can find no dirt,

there's none to be found.

-[ Sirens wailing ] -[ Whistle blowing ]

M. Maigret? Telephone.

Oh, get that call for me, will you, Janvier?

Listen to this.

"Dear M. Piquemal, I thank you for your communication.

I'm greatly interested in what you tell me

and will be glad to see you tomorrow,

towards 8:00 p.m.,

at the Restaurant Filet de Sole, Rue Montmartre.

I beg you not to mention the matter in question

to anybody until then."

Where'd you get this?

-In Piquemal's room. -Is it from Point?

-Can't make out the signature. -Well, neither could I.

But I took it to the stenographers

at the Chamber of Deputies,

and they recognized the signature immediately.

-And was it Charles Mascoulin? -Yes.

Chief, the minister wants to see you.

What now?

Well, perhaps we won't be chasing shadows for much longer.

Look at the date on this.

This letter puts Piquemal

in the Filet de Sole restaurant with Mascoulin

before he approached the minister with the Calame report.

Minister, did the Calame report predict

the likelihood of disaster

if the building was constructed on that site?

It would be inappropriate for me to speak about that

until the commission has published its findings.

Minister, is it true that the report

has conveniently gone missing?

A statement about the report will be made in due course.

Minister, are you aware that Nicoud has fled the country?

You can hardly claim the man has fled from justice

because he's visiting Belgium.

Minister, will you be making the report --

Will you be making the report public?

Minister, are you gonna resign?

Minister, isn't Arthur Nicoud a close personal friend of yours?

[ Door opens I]

The minister will see you now, Chief Inspector.

Thank you.

Is anything the matter, mademoiselle?

[ Sighs ]

Yes, Chief Inspector, there is something the matter.

[ Sniffles ]

The telephone hasn't stopped ringing all day,

every call full of hatred and malice for the minister.

He doesn't deserve this.

Mademoiselle --

I know him.

I know what this is doing to him.

How can they?

After all these years, all he stood for?

These lies they're printing.

Why doesn't anyone speak out on his behalf?

I know it's distressing

to watch someone you love being destroyed.

Can't you do something to stop all this happening?

The president has asked me to make a statement.

MAIGRET: You'll tell them what's in the Calame report?

He asked me again if I'd read the report.

And he said, "It's a long, technical report, isn't it?"

And he suggested I would avoid more serious difficulties

by saying that I'd just skimmed through it.

If spoke about its contents and implicate anyone,

I'll be accused of making charges I can't prove.

And if you said nothing, you'd be charged

with concealing the report to protect your friends?

Would you blame them for reaching that conclusion?

[ Sighs ]

I'll resign.

But not without saying what happened,

whether or not I'm believed.

Now, what's this?

From Charles Mascoulin to Piquemal.

Charles Mascoulin?

Arranging a meeting.

What -- Piquemal took him the report?

But why didn't Mascoulin publish it immediately?

You have a photocopying machine.

Why shouldn't Mascoulin?

He gave it back to Piquemal

and persuaded him to bring it to you.

Have you two quarreled?

No.

No. In a way, I admire the man.

He's a remarkable politician.

Well, perhaps you stand in the way of his ambition.

Oh, he's a maverick. He has no ambition.

And he's too outspoken to have any real hope of office.

Mascoulin lives for politics.

Is there anything personal between you two?

Mm, there was an incident

when he was a young and fiery politician.

We clashed.

And I refused to shake his hand.

-Where was this? -In the chamber.

Oh, it was eight years ago, Maigret.

See, what we have here

is an opportunity for Mascoulin to place himself at the heart

of the whole Clairfond affair.

If he now has a copy of the report,

all he has to do is expose it.

It would make him the man of the moment.

So why is he holding back?

[ Indistinct conversations ]

What a coincidence you should come here.

I was going to telephone you.

May 1?

How is your investigation proceeding?

In surprising directions.

Really? How amazing. [ Chuckles ]

But you haven't, uh, located Piquemal yet.

Not yet.

Well, it was about Piquemal that I wanted to speak.

Now, as you can imagine,

I get communications from all kinds of cranks, lunatics.

Not unlike your work, I don't doubt.

Well, I, too, have to sift through all the tips and leads

to find what I consider to be genuine intelligence.

Well, Piquemal's letter appeared to me to be sincere.

Did it concern the Calame report?

So I arranged to meet him.

He told me that he wanted to bring me the report

because he suspected that there were people

interested in hushing the story up.

But you would see to it that it was published.

Well, I told him that he must take it

straight to the minister of public works.

Would I be right in saying that you made a copy of the report

before Piquemal took it to the minister?

I'm not clear exactly what your purpose is.

My duty is to Parliament and to the country,

and tomorrow I'm gonna make a statement to the inquiry.

And you will say that M. Point lost the report

in order to protect his ministerial colleagues.

I'm sure all these men set out to be effective ministers.

Every one of them.

But they're infected by authority.

They crave power.

They'll do anything to protect themselves.

You know, they call me a troublemaker.

A nuisance keeps us all awake.

Keeps democracy awake.

Well, no doubt I'll see you tomorrow.

At the ministry.

I'm sorry, darling.

Maigret.

You've put your feet up, I see.

Doctor's orders. [ Coughs ]

Thank you, madame.

So, what can I do for you, Maigret?

I've had an idea about who took the report.

I'm looking for someone. One of your fellows.

Probably thrown out of the service.

Chucked out? Why?

I don't know why.

All I know is he's working for Charles Mascoulin now,

and Mascoulin hasn't got the kind of power

that puts security at his beckoning.

I need you to give me some names.

And why should I do that?

Oh, come on, Catroux.

I'm close. I know I am. I need your help.

I've racked my brains, and I've come up with some names here.

Baudelin.

Falcone. Valencourt.

-Fischer. -Is that all?

There are many more, I know.

I'm looking for a fellow who's gone bad.

Probably working as a private investigator now.

Fat, smokes cigars.

You know him.

Look, I don't know what you're up to, Maigret,

but I can't help you.

Come on, Catroux.

A man's life's about to be destroyed

because you can't find it in your heart to trust me.

Stop picking on me, Maigret, will you?

I'm a sick man. [ Coughs ]

-A small gift. -Gift?

Help you relax during your convalescence.

Events have taken a turn for the worse, Maigret.

In this kind of investigation, M. Comeliau, events usually do.

I have been telephoned by a news editor.

Oh, then things have certainly taken a turn for the worse.

He was interested in your role in the case.

I told him there's no formal police inquiry

since the Calame report hasn't officially been reported stolen.

Very diplomatic of you, sir.

I do not welcome the prospect of finding my chief inspector

on the front page of a national newspaper

in such undesirable circumstances.

What do you have to report to me on the subject?

Tomorrow morning, Charles Mascoulin

will address the commission and reveal my complicity

in the suppression of the Calame report.

And you find this amusing, Maigret?

Maigret --

Well done, boys.

You took your time.

I didn't give you this.

Now leave me in peace with my germs.

And all this time I've been thinking

that you were one step ahead of us.

But you were watching us, right?

Who are you working for, Catroux?

How high does it go? The top?

The president?

You don't want to know, Maigret.

We've got him!

Eugene Benoit, private investigator!

Get some copies of that done off, will you?

And go and talk to that woman in Boulevard Pasteur.

Um, what's her name?

-Gaudry. Mme. Gaudry. -Yeah.

Go and see if she recognizes him.

Right. Benoit.

Look him up in the phone book, will you?

Must have an office somewhere. And get over there.

-Right. Where's Lucas? -Wearing his shoes out.

Benoit's office! Down there, Chiefl

[ Door creaks ]

[ Footsteps I]

The concierge says Benoit hasn't been home for two nights,

but it's not unusual for him to take off for a few days...

fishing.

Where did she say he goes?

-She reckons she can't remember. -Right.

Let's go and help her to get her memory back, then, shall we?

[ Door opens I]

[ Footsteps I]

What are you doing here?

I might ask you the same question.

Our friend Fleury.

Very interesting social habits.

Drinks in the most unlikely places.

He was seen having a glass or two with Eugene Benoit

a couple of weeks ago.

Go and pick him up, Lucas.

Right.

Janvier.

Look, uh, will this take long?

My girlfriend will be worried.

I should be home by now, you see?

Wait in there.

You stay with him till the chief get back from Seine-Port.

Don't let him call anyone.

If he asks any questions, you know nothing.

Let him stew on his own for a bit.

But I had a date.

You know how to use a telephone.

[ Ducks quacking ]

To the right. About a mile.

Just before the little wooden bridge.

I'm sorry about that. [ Clears throat ]

Yes, all right. I'll tell him.

Bye.

What did she say?

Um, she asked me to tell you

that she probably won't be in when you get back.

She sounds like a nice, friendly girl.

[ Ducks quacking ]

BENOIT: Who is it?

Maigret.

Benoit, where's Piquemal?

Where have you put him?

I won't offer you any.

He's not here, Chief.

Where is he, Benoit?

How long have you been working for Mascoulin?

BENOIT: Mascoulin?

MAIGRET: You needed someone close to the minister.

And it was Mascoulin who put you onto Fleury.

Keep fishing, Maigret. There's nothing biting tonight.

Fleury told you the minister had taken the report home.

And then he gave you the keys to his apartment.

-Isn't that so? -That's the easy bit, Maigret.

-What else have you got? -Chief.

Had to be like that, of course.

You couldn't use force to get in, could you?

It mustn't look like a burglary

in order to implicate the minister.

BENOIT: Cuff me. Arrest me.

What will I get for the burglary?

A year? Not even that.

Of course, it's very easy for you and Mascoulin

to manipulate an amateur like Piquemal --

tell him he's a great man, a very brave thing he's doing,

striking at the cancer at the heart of the government.

And he believed you, didn't he?

-Where's the report, Benoit? -[ Chuckles ]

Did you burn it?

Did Mascoulin have you destroy it?

Cuff him.

-What? -Cuff him.

Come on, Maigret.

I told you I'll admit to the burglary.

Let's not get silly about this, eh?

There wasn't much to it.

I just took the keys from Mlle. Lamotte's bag

and loaned them to Benoit for an hour on Tuesday morning.

Not much to it?

No, I didn't mean --

[ Stammering ] God, I feel awful.

She was gonna leave me.

Jacqueline. My girlfriend.

I mean, she's young. She likes a good time.

She had her bags packed and everything.

I needed the money.

What was I to do?

All Benoit wanted was the keys.

I didn't know what it was about. I mean...

I thought they were just checking the minister out.

Look...

Look, you must understand. I...

I didn't want to betray Auguste, but...

I love her.

[ Crying ]

He had no idea he was working for Mascoulin.

Mascoulin?

The incident in the chamber -- refusing to shake his hand.

He was driven out, the deputy. I won't, uh, give you his name.

Shamed into resignation

when Mascoulin revealed that this deputy's brother

had been a wartime collaborator.

It wasn't even him. It was his brother.

And I felt there was a...

cruelty in the way that Mascoulin went about it.

He was merciless. He didn't know where to stop.

Others in the chamber were eager to congratulate Mascoulin,

but I refused to shake his hand.

You humiliated him in public.

I'm indebted to you, Maigret.

I can go now with honor.

You're going to resign?

I'm tired.

I shall return home to my family

and watch my grandchildren growing up.

I can't believe that Mascoulin

was prepared to sacrifice Clairfond for this.

You know he's speaking to the commission this morning.

There are men in the government

who didn't want us to see this report.

They know that its existence proves political corruption

right at the heart of the cabinet.

They ignored its warnings

because they were handsomely paid by Arthur Nicoud

in return for awarding his company

the contract to build the sanatorium.

But there has been a corruption even more immoral than this.

Even now, after the terrible disaster,

after 62 children have died,

there are men -- officers of state --

who have tried to suppress this evidence

in order to protect their friends in the government.

I have said that this is a photostat copy.

So where is the original document?

We would all like to know.

DEPUTY: You said members of the government

have sought to conceal the truth.

Can you tell us who?

I'm...

I'm sorry. I -- 1 don't remember.

M. Mascoulin, can you tell us

how you came into possession of this document?

Who gave it to you?

I did.

[ Indistinct conversations ]

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