The plot of the novel revolves around the murder of a stripper called Arlette, and the novel is noted for its depiction of the seedy nightlife of the Montmartre district in Paris.
[1] Arlette, a stripper at Picratt's nightclub in Montmartre, reports to the police that she has overheard two men plotting to kill a "countess".
A man named Oscar becomes the lead suspect after Maigret finds out that he used to be the Countess's butler.
Maigret uses another drug user, Philippe, to lead him to the killer, who is shot dead by Lapointe.
The novel has been published in English under three different titles: The novel has been rated one of the ten best Maigret stories[3] and has been adapted several times for TV and film.