No doubt Maigret was on holiday when Monsieur Bouvet disconcerted everyone by falling dead as he was examining old prints at a bookseller's stall beside the Seine. 'One of our readers' - a smart young American tourist - snapped the body and sold the picture to a newspaper. And then the fun began. For people recognized the dead man. Madame Jeanne, the concierge, knew very well that he was Rene Bouvet. But Mrs. Marsh swore he was her husband, Samuel. So the Commissioner of Paris Police HQ became involved and the venerable Monsieur Beaupere began inquiries on behalf of the families concerned. At length Lucas, one of Maigret's inspectors, was deputed to find out exactly who Bouvet was, and an uncommon tale it proved to be.