On one of those rare days when all is quiet at the Quai des Orfèvres Maigret receives a visit from the mild-mannered toy salesman (at the Magasins du Louvre) Xavier Marton.

Worried about his own wife's health and musing over his marriage, Maigret decides to investigate despite an order from the public prosecutor not to.

The French title was first published by Presses de la Cite in Paris on 25 June 1958.

[2] A French film version of the book with Bruno Cremer and directed by Pierre Joassin appeared in 2003.

[3] An English language TV version was broadcast on 7 November 1960 with Rupert Davies as Maigret.