While Maigret is still wondering whether the anonymous death threats against the well-known fortune teller Madame Picard should be taken seriously, the mysterious scribe strikes. The police find the woman stabbed to death in her apartment. Has an imbecile sailor, crouched in an adjoining room, committed the crime? Other clues lead Maigret to hotel guest Blaise, who goes on mysterious fishing trips at night, and Madame le Cloaguen, the victim of blackmail ... Based on the 23rd Maigret novel Signé Picpus (1941), which was published in 34 episodes in the Paris Soir between 11 December 1941 and 21 January 1942. German translation titles are Maigret verschenkt seine Pfeife and Maigret contra Picpus.