Florence

Florence serves as a brief but consequential destination in the investigation: the newly married Santonis have flown there from Paris for a few days, and Maigret’s efforts to locate their hotel bring him into telephone contact with them. The city is presented through travel, hotel searches, and a restaurant call rather than through local description.

The Santonis’ Stay

After supper at Le Roméo, the bride and bridegroom fly to Florence, intending to remain for a few days. Maigret later learns that they are staying at the most expensive hotel on the list he has obtained. They are not in their suite when he calls; they have gone down to the hotel restaurant for lunch about half an hour earlier.

Maigret’s Search and Call

Back at the office, Maigret works from a list of Florence hotels and reaches the Santonis’ hotel on his third call. After a few minutes, he gets through to them at the restaurant. The connection depends on a small practical circumstance: the head waiter has worked in Paris and speaks a little French, allowing Maigret to communicate through him.

The Voice on the Line

Maigret asks the head waiter to bring Madame Santoni to the telephone. But when the message is delivered, the voice that answers is a man’s, and it sounds aggressive. The call thus establishes contact without immediately providing the response Maigret sought: Florence brings the investigation within speaking distance of the couple, while the unexpected voice leaves the exchange charged with tension.