Death in the Clouds (Hercule Poirot 12)

‘And then—me,’ she said.

‘And then you. And I say to myself, “How nice, how very nice it would be if I were to see her again one day.” And here I am sitting opposite you. The gods arrange things very well sometimes.’

Jane said, ‘You’re an archaeologist, aren’t you? You dig up things?’

And she listened with keen attention while Jean Dupont talked of his work.

Jane gave a little sigh at last.

‘You’ve been in so many countries. You’ve seen so much. It all sounds so fascinating. And I shall never go anywhere or see anything.’

‘You would like that—to go abroad—to see wild parts of the earth? You would not be able to get your hair waved, remember.’

‘It waves by itself,’ said Jane, laughing.

She looked up at the clock and hastily summoned the waitress for her bill.

Jean Dupont said with a little embarrassment, ‘Mademoiselle, I wonder if you would permit—as I have told you, I return to France tomorrow—if you would dine with me tonight.’

‘I’m so sorry, I can’t. I’m dining with someone.’

‘Ah! I’m sorry, very sorry. You will come again to Paris, soon?’

‘I don’t expect so.’

‘And me, I do not know when I shall be in London again! It is sad!’

He stood a moment, holding Jane’s hand in his.

‘I shall hope to see you again, very much,’ he said, and sounded as though he meant it.

Chapter 14

At Muswell Hill

At about the time that Jane was leaving Antoine’s, Norman Gale was saying in a hearty professional tone, ‘Just a little tender, I’m afraid…Guide me if I hurt you—’

His expert hand guided the electric drill.

‘There, that’s all over. Miss Ross?’

Miss Ross was immediately at his elbow stirring a minute white concoction on a slab.

Norman Gale completed his filling and said, ‘Let me see, it’s next Tuesday you’re coming for those others?’

His patient, rinsing her mouth ardently, burst into a fluent explanation. She was going away—so sorry—would have to cancel the next appointment. Yes, she would let him know when she got back.

And she escaped hurriedly from the room.

‘Well,’ said Gale, ‘that’s all for today.’

Miss Ross said, ‘Lady Higginson rang up to say she must give up her appointment next week. She wouldn’t make another. Oh, and Colonel Blunt can’t come on Thursday.’

Norman Gale nodded. His face hardened.

Every day was the same. People ringing up. Cancelled appointments. All varieties of excuses—going away—going abroad—got a cold—may not be here—

It didn’t matter what reason they gave, the real reason Norman had just seen quite unmistakably in his last patient’s eye as he reached for the drill…a look of sudden panic…