For the first time in his career, Inspector Maigret receives written summons to the Chief Commissioner's office. In this unconventional 1964 novel, he learns that he has been accused of a horrible assault by an individual with ties to a high-ranking official. He is forbidden from attempting to investigate the case, but with his career and reputation on the line, Maigret must do everything he can to prove his innocence and uncover the motive behind the accusation.