The September sun made Bourget Airport hot.Passengers walked through the underpass and boarded the Prometheus flight to Croydon, which was minutes away from departure. Jane Gray fell behind, hastily taking seat sixteen.Some passengers have come to the front cabin through the toilet and dining room next to the middle door.Across the aisle, a woman's high-pitched voice drowned out the conversations of other passengers.Jane pouted slightly, she was too familiar with the voice. "My God, that's amazing. . . . What did you say? . . . Oh, yes . . . no, it's Pinett. . . . Yes, those people . . . let's just sit together . . . , okay? Who?  … Oh, I see."

Then a genial baritone said: "I am honored, ma'am." Jane looked at him from the corner of her eyes. He was not too old, with a long beard on his egg-shaped face.He politely moved his luggage to Jane's seat across the aisle.They mentioned Pinett in their conversation, which caught Jane's attention because she had just been there.Jane suddenly remembered seeing the lady at Pinet.A friend said she was a noble lady, but others said she worked in a choir. Jane seemed unwilling to think about it. She looked out the window at the busy scene at the airport.Across from Jane sat a young man in a pullover, and Jane was determined not to look at him, no matter what happened, she couldn't look at him.

The mechanic shouted something in French, the engine roared suddenly, and the plane took off.Jane held her breath, this was her second flight.She felt the fuselage lift off the ground, Le Bourget far behind. There were 28 passengers in the ordinary cabin of the plane and 11 passengers in the rear cabin where Jane was. The crew included two pilots and two flight attendants.The deafening sound of the aircraft engine stifled the enthusiasm of everyone's conversation, and the passengers had to think about their own thoughts. Jane Gray thought: "Don't look at him, absolutely not. Think of something else that will give you peace of mind."

Not long ago, Jane and five colleagues who worked in the barber shop bought a lottery ticket issued by an Irish company. "What would you do, my dear, if you won the lottery?" "I already have a plan." However, while she didn't win the grand prize, she won £100! "Spend half, dear, and save the other." "If I were you, I'd go and buy the best leather jacket." "How about going on a trip?" To spend a week in Pinet for the summer is a luxury many people only dream of.What clothes to wear is not a big problem.A London girl working in a small firm like Jane has a wardrobe of good fashion.In addition, the nails, makeup and hairdos are no less than any high-society dame.

But now, during her ten-day trip to Pinett, Jane remembered only one thing. Every night, Jane puts out a small portion of her money to participate in "pleasure gambling".For 4 days in a row, she lost more than she won.This is her last bet of the day.Bets have been placed on the gamble except for the two positions of 5 and 6.Jane hesitated for a moment, betting on 6 points, and a young man across from him bet on 5 points.The roulette spun fast, and Jane closed her eyes until the croupier said, "5 points red." Jane almost didn't cry, but the young man opposite said, "Why don't you check your winning code?"

"I won? But I bet 6 points." "You didn't. I bet 6 and you bet 5." He smiled charmingly, his brown face set off by his white teeth.He has blue eyes and short hair. Confused, Jane looked at the young man suspiciously. "That's right," he said, "don't hesitate any longer." Then, with a friendly nod, he turned away.This is a nice guy, she thought, maybe he did it to get close to her.It seems that he is not that kind of person.Now, he is sitting opposite her. It's all over and the money is gone.What a disappointment to spend the last two days in Paris.Now flying back to London, "what's next?"

The two women across the aisle stopped talking.One of them, Mrs Hobrey, looked at a broken nail with displeasure.She rang the bell to call the flight attendant: "You go to the front cabin and call my servant." After a while, a French girl with black hair and black clothes came over with a jewelry box.Mrs. Hobrey said to her in French: "Ma'am, I want the little red leather case." The French girl hurried across the aisle again, walked to the end of the cabin, and brought a red leather vanity case.Sicily Houbry took the locket and said, "Leave it here." Jane looked at the servant going away.Behind the two ladies sat the foreigner who had just given up his seat to the country woman.He seemed to be in a deep sleep wrapped in a scarf.Beside him sat a tall man with gray hair, who was carefully cleaning the flute in his hand.Jane thought he was not a musician, but a lawyer or a doctor.

Behind them are two Frenchmen, like a father and son, who are gesticulating and talking excitedly. Jane's view was blocked by a man in a blue jumper, who she was determined not to look at. Facing her, Norman Gale thought: She is beautiful.She must still remember me.It was a delightful look to let her win a gamble.She has such a charming smile. The Countess of Hobrey was thinking: What a mess, it's so tiresome.That cat made everything worse.She looked at me like I was a fishy fish.I hate these country women.What should I do? The cat Lady Hobrey hated was Lady Venetia Kerr, who sat opposite her.The Marchioness was thinking: Poor Stephen, why did you leave me and throw yourself into the arms of that pregnant woman, I hope you can change your mind.

The two ladies took out their cigarettes almost simultaneously.The flight attendant quickly said, "I'm sorry, ladies, smoking is not allowed on the plane." Sicily Hobry says: "Damn it" Mr. Hercule Poirot was thinking: That girl is very pretty.She seemed to have something on her mind, why didn't she want to take a look at the handsome young man opposite?They both seemed wary of each other.The plane sank slightly, Mr. Poirot felt a little uncomfortable, and he closed his eyes.Beside him, Dr. Bryant looked a little nervous: It's hard for me to make a decision, it's hard.This will be a turning point in my life.He carefully took the flute out of its case.Music keeps people away from all worldly troubles.With a smile on his face, he put the flute to his mouth, and then put it back.Apparently, the short man beside him had fallen into a deep sleep.

The old Dupont yelled in French to the young Dupont next to him: "It's obvious, they are all wrong. Those Germans, Americans, and British are actually looking for some prehistoric pottery. For example, the Samara utensils..." Son Joan Dupont seemed a bit unimpressed.Arnold Dupont opened a handbag: "For example, these Kurdish tobacco rods, which look like things from 5000 AD, were actually just out of the factory." Their conversation continued like this. Mr. Clancy, the detective story writer, got up from behind Norman Gale's seat and patted the rear wall of the cabin, professionally refraining from getting involved in any argument.

Mr. Ryder sitting behind him was thinking: I must persevere, even though the difficulties are great, I must increase the retention of dividends this time, once I pass this level...! Norman Gale went to the bathroom.Jane took out her cosmetics, put on powder, and put on some lipstick.The flight attendant brought coffee to her.Jane saw outside the window the English Channel shining blue in the sun. A wasp hovered over Mr. Clancy's head, and he waved casually.The wasps buzzed again to visit the Duponts' coffee mug.Joan Dupont strangled it deftly. The conversation stopped and the cabin finally fell silent.But the passengers did not stop thinking. Mrs. Giselle, who was sitting in seat No. 2 at the top of the cabin, her head drooped forward, maybe she was asleep.But she didn't sleep.She could neither speak nor think. Madame Giselle is dead.