Monsieur Pamplemousse and the Militant Midwives by Michael Bond Read Free Book Online Page A

name to be part of that team, and your own immediately sprang to mind. Given your background and the time you spent with the food fraud squad before joining Le Guide , you are an ideal candidate.’
    ‘When you say it is a reliable source, Monsieur …?’
    ‘ Impeccable !’
    ‘And the others who are involved?’
    ‘The British, for the sake of Entente Cordiale . And the Americans. I imagine you are familiar with the name Claye Beardmore …’
    ‘Isn’t that the person who runs a cookery website? He has invented some kind of diet for people want to lose weight. I believe it is all the rage. He also has a column which is syndicated worldwide.’
    ‘Correct. Beardmore also happens to be a CIA agent. An interesting case. Like many membersof that ilk, Claye is what is known as a “sleeper”. Mostly they remain anonymous, leading a normal life – a garage owner here – a small shopkeeper there – until such time as they are called upon to serve.
    ‘Unfortunately, what started off as a relatively low-key cover job caught on. In some respects you could say it backfired. In short, it has become a worldwide success. The only saving grace is that since Claye’s picture never appears on screen, anonymity is preserved.’
    ‘The few pieces I have seen have always struck me as being very didactic,’ said Monsieur Pamplemousse. ‘Doucette finds some of the recipes depressing. A never-ending diet of raisins and rice is all very well if you have had the misfortune to suffer an arterial blockage, but there is little to recommend it otherwise.’
    ‘Claye Beardmore is an extremely didactic person,’ said the Director guardedly. ‘What our American friends would call a tough cookie. And a very successful one at that.
    ‘You must form your own judgements, but if you want my opinion Claye has been “downloaded” more times than you and I have had hot dinners.’
    Monsieur Pamplemousse eyed the Director curiously. It was unusual for him to be on first name terms quite so early on in a relationship.
    ‘You have already met, Monsieur ?’
    The Director hesitated. ‘Briefly. Claye slipped into Paris late last night, ostensibly to take part in a recovery programme for food addiction. It is an occupational hazard. We rendezvoused and it was arranged that the two of you should meet up as soon as possible in order to exchange notes.
    ‘I will give you the name of the hotel.’ Reaching for a pad, Monsieur Leclercq scribbled a name and held it up for viewing.
    Monsieur Pamplemousse gave a whistle between his teeth. The Pommes d’Or was one of a small band of Paris hotels boasting a restaurant that not only had three Stock pots in Le Guide , but three rosettes in Michelin.
    ‘It doesn’t sound a very suitable choice for someone suffering from severe food addiction,’ he said.
    The Director held a match to the paper and watched it burn. ‘It has the advantage of being very central,’ he said enigmatically. ‘When you get there go straight up to suite 704. I suggest you take Pommes Frites with you.’
    Catching sight of Monsieur Pamplemousse’s gloomy expression, he made haste to soften the blow. ‘I would join you, but Claye wanted to see you in particular and three is a crowd.’
    ‘It would be four with Pommes Frites,’ said Monsieur Pamplemousse. ‘Besides, he is not particularly partial to raisins, or fruit for that matter.’
    Something in Monsieur Leclercq’s avoidance of a straight answer set alarm bells ringing in his head. ‘Do you not think, Monsieur ,’ he said, ‘that a rendezvous with someone at a higher level than me would be more apposite?’
    ‘No, I don’t, Pamplemousse,’ said the Director severely.
    Avoiding the other’s gaze, and clearly revelling in his new role, he busied himself sweeping the ashes into his waste bin.
    ‘But since you have already met …’
    Monsieur Leclercq ignored the interruption. ‘Bear in mind, Aristide, that what you are doing isn’t simply for Le Guide , it