When a toy salesman confides in Maigret he quickly becomes caught up in a poisonous feud between husband and wife
An unusually quiet day for Maigret at the Quai des Orfèvres is disturbed by a visit from mild-mannered toy salesman, Xavier Manton. Maigret is puzzled by Manton's admission that he suspects his wife of plotting to poison him and when he receives a visit from Mme Manton later that day he is not sure who to trust. Maigret heeds the advice of his seniors and investigates the couple and when a body is discovered everyone, including Maigret, is surprised.