On the wrong shores

---

»Wait, where am I right now?« That's what came to mind during this little affair and inevitably the question of whether I'm wrong, Simenon or the translator. Due to an innate quirk, I hate being wrong, but that doesn't mean that when I'm vindicated I necessarily throw my hands up in victory. This time it's about rivers.

A quick look at the scene: Maigret had met Joseph Van Damme in Reims - again! - and one of them explained that he had to go to Paris. Maigret had his home and his office there, so he had to go anyway. Van Damme also had to go and declared that he would take the inspector with him.

Without further ado, he hired a car and chauffeur and off they went. At some point, and this could not have been planned, there was a flat tire and thus a forced stop. While the driver was busy getting the car back on the road, the two chauffeurs headed towards the river.

Simenon describes the situation as follows:

They first walked a few steps along the road, then they saw a small path at the end of which a river flowed rapidly.
»Ah, the Marne!« exclaimed Van Damme. »It's in flood.«

This description fits perfectly. At the same time, it is briefly mentioned that the Luzancy lock is nearby, and when interested parties look at the map, it looks very coherent.

Somehow Maigret had expected this, at least he wasn't surprised when Van Damme gave him a nudge in the direction of the flood. We don't know whether our favorite detective was a good swimmer. Secretly, I would assume that he had mixed feelings. I can't remember any account of him saying that water was his profession and that he moved around in it like a seal (or rather a sea lion). On the other hand, he was a fisherman who also went out in a boat, so it would be reckless not to reach the shore with skillful movements.

But no matter what Maigret's swimming skills were like, everything looks a little different in high water. And that doesn't help you either, because if flotsam thunders against your head and you fall unconscious, you could be an Olympic swimming champion and you'd still die.

So: Maigret was extremely lucky that he didn't end up in deep water and only got his legs a little wet. The relationship with Van Damme changed within a few moments - he was an enemy and was treated like a criminal by the policeman.

Shortly afterwards - in the same chapter - there is another reference to the fact that it was the Marne into which the businessman tried to push the investigator. So it's a very clear-cut case.

Two chapters later, Maigret writes Lucas a letter. This was a precautionary measure in case any misfortune befell him in Liège. He mentions one point in the letter:

Comme je rentre à Paris en compagnie de Van Damme, il tente de me pousser dans la Marne.

In older german translations that I have looked at, the Marne is also mentioned.