The detective Ausable:
Ausable was a detective. But he was very fat and he did not look like a detective. He had a room on the sixth floor in a French Hotel and it was the top floor. It was a cheap accommodation unworthy of a detective’s station in life.
Fowler meets Ausable:
Fowler was a writer. He wanted to write a book on detectives. So he came to meet Ausable. But after meeting Ausable, he was quite disappointed as he did not possess the qualities like a detective like James Bond. Ausable could speak French and German. But he had an American accent. Contrary to his expectations, Ausable told Fowler that there were no beautiful girls around him. Talking to each other, they reached the room in the hotel and opened the door.
Max with a pistol:
After entering the room, Ausable told Fowler that he would see an important paper that could change the course of History. Several men and women were after it. As soon as Ausable switched on the light, they saw a man with an automatic pistol. Seeing him, Ausable said that he was shocked to see him there. He thought that he was in Berlin. At this time Fowler was much frightened.
Spinning a Romance:
To confuse Max, Ausable made a false story of balcony next to the window. He sat in an armchair and started saying that it was the second time in a month that somebody had got into his room through the balcony. It is an extension of the neighbour’s balcony reaching just below his window. The hotel management had failed to close it despite his complaint. Ausable showed anger and disappointment. Max believed him and he told that he had come to take the report about missiles.
The sound of knocking at the door:
Just then, they heard a knock at the door. Ausable immediately made a story and told that the police might have come to provide him security due to this important paper. He told Max that the police would enter the room, if he did not open the door. They might fire if they found Max armed.
Max drops from the balcony:
Max believed Ausable and he went towards the window. He caught the door frame with his free hand and put his gun over Ausable and Fowler. Then he moved his other leg up and over the window sill. The doorknob turned. Max freed himself and dropped in the balcony. He cried loudly.
A waiter enters:
After this a waiter entered the room with a bottle and two glasses. It was ordered by Ausable. Fowler was very surprised at this. He asked Ausable about Max. Ausable replied that he (Max) would never return. Thus Ausable had proved himself a true detective.
