THE MURDER OF ROGER ACKROYD - THE PARLORMAID Astounding Stories of Super-Science October 2022, by Astounding Stories irveye ye HackerNoon's Book Blog Post series. Vonani munwe mutambo wese mubuku iri . pano Astounding Stories of Super-Science October 2022: THE MURDER OF ROGER ACKROYD - THE PARLORMAID NdaAgatha Christie Takawana Amai Ackroyd mupahoro. Navo pakanga paine murume mudikiwo akaoma, ane chirebvu chinopinda uye maziso akapinza negrey, uye “mwanapembe” yakanyorwa kwose kwose paari. “VaHammond vari kugara kuzodya masikati nesu,” vakadaro Amai Ackroyd. “Munoziva Major Blunt, VaHammond? Uye mudiwa Dr. Sheppard—uye zvakare hushamwari hwepedyo hwaRogerwo.” Uye, regai nditarise——” Akamira, achitarisa Hercule Poirot achishamisika. “Uyu ndiM. Poirot, amai,” vakadaro Flora. “Ndakakuudzai nezvake mangwanani.” “Oh! hongu,” vakadaro Amai Ackroyd vasingazivi. “Enya, mudiwa, enya. Ndiye wekuwana Rufu, handizvo?” “Ndiye wekuwana kuti ndiani akauraya babamunini,” vakadaro Flora. “Oh! mudiwa,” vakadaro amai vake. “Ndapota! Nzara dzangu. Ndakatyoka mangwanani ano, ndakatyoka chaizvo. Zvinhu zvinotyisa zvakaitika. Handigoni kubatsira asi kufunga kuti zvingave tsaona. Roger aidiwa zvikuru nekubata zvinhu zvinonetsa. Ruoko rwake runofanira kunge rwasvetuka, kana chimwe chinhu.” Dzidziso iyi yakagamuchirwa nekudzikama. Ndakaona Poirot achiswedera kune mwanapembe, uye achitaura naye mukubvumirana. Vakafamba vakaenda kune nzvimbo yepahwindo. Ndakapinda—uye ndobva ndanzwa. “Pamwe ndiri kupindira,” ndakadaro. “Kwete zvachose,” akadaro Poirot achitsvitsva. “Ndiwe nesu, M. le docteur, tinotsvaga nyaya iyi tiri pamwe chete. Pasina iwe ndingadai ndarasika. Ndinoda ruzivo kubva kuna VaHammond vakanaka.” “Muri kuita muchimira Captain Ralph Paton, ndinonzwisisa,” akadaro mwanapembe achinyatsopindura. Poirot akadzungudza musoro. “Kwete kudaro. Ndiri kuita zvimwe nezvekururama. Miss Ackroyd akandikumbira kuti nditsvage rufu rwa babamunini vake.” VaHammond vakapinda nekushamisika. “Handidi kutenda kuti Captain Paton anogona kunge akabatanidzwa munehuroyi uhu,” akadaro, “kunyangwe uchapupu hwezviitiko hwakaratidzwa kwaari huri hwakakura sei. Chokwadi chete chekuti aidiwa zvikuru nemari——” “Aidiwa zvikuru nemari?” akadaro Poirot achikurumidza. Mwanapembe akasimudza maoko ake. “Yaive mamiriro akajairika kuna Ralph Paton,” akadaro achinyorova. “Mari yaifamba murwoko rwemvura. Aigara achikumbira kuna baba vake.” “Aive akazviita here munguva pfupi yapfuura? Munguva yekupedzisira, semuenzaniso?” “Handigoni kutaura. VaAckroyd havana kuudza chokwadi kwandiri.” “Ndinonzwisisa. VaHammond, ndinotenda kuti munoziva nezve zvirongwa zvebvumidzo ya VaAckroyd?” “Enya. Iri ndiro bhizinesi rangu guru nhasi.” “Zvino, ndichitarisa kuti ndiri kuitira Miss Ackroyd, hamuzonetseki kunditsanangurira zviri mubvumidzo?” “Zviri nyore kwazvo. Zvabviswa mutauro wemutemo, uye mushure mekubhadhara dzimwe nhaka nedzawakapihwa——” “Zvakaita semuenzaniso——?” akadaro Poirot. VaHammond vakapinda nekushamisika. “Zana pounds kuna mushandi wake, Miss Russell; makumi mashanu pounds kumubiki, Emma Cooper; mazana mashanu pounds kunhume wake, Mr. Geoffrey Raymond. Zvino kune dzakasiyana siyana dzemapfari——” Poirot akasimudza ruoko rwake. “Ah! Zvipo zvekunzwira ngoni, hazvindiiti chido.” “Zviripachena. Mari yemazana gumi emapaundi ezvikamu inoendeswa kuna Amai Cecil Ackroyd mukati mehupenyu hwake. Miss Flora Ackroyd anogashira mazana maviri emapaundi zvakanaka. Zvakasara—zvichiisamo nhaka iyi, nezvikamu muAckroyd and Son—kuvambya wake, Ralph Paton.” “VaAckroyd vaive nepfuma yakakura here?” “Pfuma yakakura zvikuru. Captain Paton achava murume wechidiki ane pfuma zvikuru.” Pakave nekudzikama. Poirot nemwanapembe vakatarisana. “VaHammond,” rakauya izwi raAmai Ackroyd achikumbira kubva pamoto. Mwanapembe akapindura kudana uku. Poirot akatora ruoko rwangu ndokundidhonza nekumwe kuno pahwindo. “Tarisa ma iris,” akadaro achitaura nesimba guru. “Zvinoshamisa, handizvo? Chigumisiro chakatsiga nechinofadza.” Panguva imwe chete ndakanzwa pressure yeruoko rwake pambendekete yangu, uye akawedzera nenzwi rakaderera:— “Unoda zvechokwadi kundibatsira here? Kutora chikamu mune zvakavhenganiswa izvi?” “Enya, zvechokwadi,” ndakadaro achishushikana. “Hapana chandichada kupfuura ichi. Hamuzivi kuti hupenyu hwakakora sei hwefogei yekare ndinayo. Hapana chakamboitika chisina kujairika.” “Zvakanaka, tichava vanoshanda pamwe chete ipapo. Maminitsi mashoma kana kuti mashoma ndinotenda kuti Major Blunt achauya kwatiri. Haafari nababa vakanaka. Zvino kune zvinhu zvishoma zvandinoda kuziva—asi handidi kuita sekunge ndinoda kuzviziva. Unonzwisisa? Saka kuchava basa rako kubvunza mibvunzo.” “Ndedzipi mibvunzo yauri kuda ndibvunze?” ndakabvunza ndichitya. “Ndinoda kuti unhuunze zita raAmai Ferrars.” “Eya?” “Taura nezvake nenzira yakajairika. Mubvunze kana aive pasi apa apo murume wake akafa. Unonzwisisa rudzi rwezvinhu zvandiri kutaura. Uye iye achipindura, tarisa kumeso kwake pasina kuita sekunge uri kutarisa. ” C’est compris? Pakanga pasina nguva yakawanda, nekuti panguva iyi, sezvakanga zvaprofitawo naPoirot, Blunt akasiya vamwe nechekuvapo kwake kwakasimba uye akauya kwatiri. Ndakakurudzira kufamba pateri, uye akabvuma. Poirot akasara. Ndokumira kuti ndiongorore rose rekupedzisira. “Zvinhu zvinochinja sei mukati mezuva kana kupfuura,” ndakaona. “Ndakanga ndiri kumusoro pano Last Wednesday, ndinoyeuka, ndichifamba pano pachisina chete. Ackroyd aive 122 nami—akazadzwa nekugwinyara. Uye zvino—mazuva matatu gare gare—Ackroyd afa, mudiwa, Amai Ferrars vafa—munoziva here? Asi zvechokwadi munoziva.” Blunt akagutsuruka. “Wakamuona here kubva pakanga pakwira nguva ino?” “Ndainge naAckroyd kuzoshanyira. Last Tuesday, ndinofunga kuti yaive. Mukadzi anofadza—asi chimwe chinhu chakaipa nezvake. Zvakadzika—munhu haazomboti azive zvaaiita.” Ndakatarisa mumaziso ake akatsiga negrey. Hapana chinhu ipapo zvechokwadi. Ndakafamba:— “Ndinofunga wakasangana naye kare.” “Nguva yekupedzisira pandakanga ndiri pano—iye nemurume wake vakanga vauya kuzogara pano.” Akamira kwekanguva obva arikuridza: “Zvinoshamisa, akanga achinja zvakadzama pakati peipapo nanhasi.” “Kwakunzwika sei?” ndakabvunza. “Akataridzika makore gumi akwegura.” “Wanga uri pasi apa apo murume wake akafa?” ndakabvunza, ndichiedza kuita kuti mubvunzo uve wakajairika.” “Kwete. Kubva kune zvandakunzwa zvingave zviri kubviswa zvakanaka. Kusaremekedza, zvichida, asi chokwadi.” Ndakabvumirana. “Ashley Ferrars anga asiri murume akanaka,” ndakadaro achinyatsopindura. “Mhondi, ndakafunga,” akadaro Blunt. “Kwete,” ndakadaro, “murume ane mari yakawanda kune zvakanaka kwaari.” “Oh! mari! Matambudziko ese apasi anogona kuverengerwa kumari—kana kusavapo kwayo.” “Ndedzipi dzaive dambudziko rako chaiwo?” ndakabvunza. “Ndine zvakakwana nezvandichida. Ndinorega kune vane rombo rakanaka.” “Chaizvoizvo.” “Handisi kungofadzwa nazvo zvino, chokwadi. Ndakagashira nhaka gore rapfuura, uye semupenzi ndakabvumira kuti ndinyengererwe nekuisa mune zvimwe zvirongwa zvemhuka. Ndakazvitaurira, uye ndakatsanangura dambudziko rangu rakafanana. Zvino chiridziro chakadziya, uye taive tese kuzodya masikati. Poirot akandidhonza kure zvishoma. “ ” Eh! bien? “Aripo,” ndakadaro. “Ndinovimba naye.” “Hapana—chinokanganisa?” “Akagamuchira nhaka gore rapfuura,” ndakadaro. “Asi nei kwete? Sei asingadi? Ndinogona kuverengera kuti murume uyu akachengeteka uye akatendeseka.” “Pasina kutaura, pasina kutaura,” akadaro Poirot achinyaradza. “Usazvishungurudza.” Akataura sekunge ari kutaura nemwana anotsamwa. Taive tese tichipinda muresitorendi. Zvainge zvisingatenderwi kuti maawa makumi maviri nemana akanga apfuura kubva pandakagara patafura iyoyo pakupedzisira. Mushure mezvo, Amai Ackroyd vakanditorei padivi uye vakagara pasi neni pasofa. “Handigoni kubatsira asi kunzwa kunyunyuta,” vakadaro, vachibuditsa chigumwe chekuzora chemhando isingafanirwe kuchema mairi. “Ndiri kunyunyuta, ndichireva, nekuda kwekushaya kuvimbika kwaRoger kwandiri. Aya mazana maviri emapaundi anofanira kunge akasiirwa —kwete kuna Flora. Amai vanogona kuvimbwa kuti vachengetedze zvido zvemudiki wavo. Kushaya kuvimbika, ndinodana izvi.” ini “Unokanganwa, Amai Ackroyd,” ndakadaro, “Flora aive muzukuru waAckroyd chaiye, hama yeropa. Zvingadai zvakasiyana dai waive hanzvadzi yake panzvimbo pehanzvadzi yemurume wake.” “Seiwo nherera yaCecil, ndinofunga manzwiro angu anofanira kunge akafunga,” akadaro mukadzi, achitendeuka maziso ake echikadzi nechigumbeze. “Asi Roger aigara achinyanya kuomesera—kusaremekedza —nezve mari. Yaive mamiriro akaoma kwazvo kuna Flora nesu. Haana kana kupa musikana akanaka mari yekuzviratidzira. Aibhadhara zvikwereti zvake, munoziva, uye kunyange izvi nechikumbiro chikuru uye achibvunza kuti aizoda zvakadaro sei—zvakafanana nemurume—asi—zvino ndakanganwa zvandaive ndichiri kuda kutaura! Oh, enya, kwete penny yataigona kudaidza yedu, munoziva. Flora akazvirwadzisa—ezi, ndinofanira kutaura akazvirwadzisa—zvisingadzoreki. Kunyangwe aidiwa nababamunini vake, zvechokwadi. Asi musikana wese aizozvirwadzisa. Eya, ndinofanira kutaura Roger aive nezvitsva zvemari zvisinganzwisisike. Haana kana kutenga matauro matsva, kunyangwe ndakamuudza kuti ekare akanga ari mumahwindo. Uye obva,” akaenderera Amai Ackroyd, nekukwira kamwe kamwe kunoratidzira nhaurirano yake, “kusiyira mari yese iyoyo—zviuru zvishanu—fungai, zviuru zvishanu!—kuya mukadzi iyeye.” pfuma “Mukadzi upi?” “Mukadzi iyeye Russell. Chimwe chinhu chakaipa kwazvo nezvake, uye saka ndagara ndichidaro. Asi Roger aisataura shoko rakaipa nezvake. Akataura kuti aive mukadzi ane simba zvikuru rwe125 chimiro, uye kuti ainyemwerera uye aimuonerera. Aigara achitaura nezvekutendeseka kwake nekuvira uye hunhu hwake hwakanaka. ndinofunga pane chimwe chinhu chinonetsa nezvake. Zvechokwadi aiedza zvakakwana kuti aroore Roger. Asi ndakazvimisa nokukurumidza. Aigara achindivenga. Kwete.” ndakafunga kuti akandiona.” Ini Ini Ndainetseka kana paine mukana wekumisa kutaura kwaAmai Ackroyd, uye kuenda. VaHammond vakapa zvaidiwa zvekupindira nekusvika kuti vatore. Ndakatora mukana wangu uye ndakapindawo. “Nezvechirevo,” ndakadaro. “Muiisa kupi? Apa, kana kuti kuThree Boars?” Amai Ackroyd vakanditarisa nehuma yakaderera. “Chirevo?” vakabvunza, mifananidzo yekuvhiringidzika. “Asi zvechokwadi hazvifanire kuve nechirevo?” VaHammond vakapinda nekukosora kwebvudzi uye vakadzikisira, “Zvisingadzivisike. Pasi pemamiriro ezvinhu,” mumaviri mako mapfupi emabato. “Asi zvechokwadi Dr. Sheppard anogona kugadzirisa——” “Pane miganhu ye simba rangu rekugadzirisa,” ndakadaro ndichinyorova. “Kana rufu rwake rwanga ruri netsaona——” “Akaurayiwa, Amai Ackroyd,” ndakadaro nesimba. Akadzikisa chiedza. “Hapana dzidziso yetsaona inogona kumira kwemaminitsi.” Amai Ackroyd vakanditarisa vachishungurudzika. Ndakanga ndisina moyo une moyo kwazvo nekuda kwezvandakafunga kuti kutya kwake kwezvinhu zvisingafadzi. “Kana paine chirevo, ini—handifanire kupindura mibvunzo nezve zvose izvozvo, handizvo?” vakabvunza. “Handizivi zvichadiwa,” ndakapindura. “Ndinofunga kuti Mr. Raymond achatora chikuru kwauri. Anoziva zvinhu zvese, uye anogona kupa uchapupu hwekuzivikanwa.” Mwanapembe akabvumirana nekukotsira. “Ndinonyatsotenda kuti hapana chiri chekutya, Amai Ackroyd,” akadaro. “Muchabviswa zvese zvisingafadzi. Zvino, nezve mari, makawana zvakakwana here parizvino? Ndichireva,” akawedzera, sezvo akatarisa kwaari achibvunza, “mari yakagadzirira. Cash, munoziva. Kana zvisina kudaro, ndinogona kugadzirisa kuti ndikupe chero chaunoda.” “Izvo zvinofanira kunge zvakanaka,” akadaro Raymond, aive akamira padhuze. “Mr. Ackroyd akabhadhara cheki ye zana pounds nezuro.” “Zana pounds?” “Eya. Kune mubhadharo nezvimwe zvinodiwa nhasi. Panguva ino ichiri isina kudzika.” “Mari iyi iripi? Mu desk yake?” “Kwete, aigara achichengeta mari yake mukamuri rake. Mune bhokisi rekona rekare, kuti rirege kunzi. Fungidzo inonakidza, handizvo?” “Ndinofunga,” akadaro mwanapembe, “tinofanira kuona kuti mari iripo here ndisati ndasiya.” “Zvechokwadi,” akadaro nhume. “Ndinokutora kumusoro zvino.... Oh! Ndakanganwa. Musuo wakagarwa.” Kubvunza kubva kuna Parker kwakapindurwa nekuti Inspector Raglan aive mumba yemuchengeti achibvunza zvimwe zvakawanda. Maminitsi mashoma gare gare mutariri akapinda muboka muhoro, achivakisa kiyi navo127 iye. Akavhura musuo uye takapinda muropi ndokusimudza staircase diki. Kumusoro kwemasitepisi musuo wekamuri raAckroyd wakanga wakavhurika. Mukati mekamuri kwaive nerima, mapenduru akanga akavharwa, uye mubhedha wakanga wakadzika sekunge wakanga uri nezuro manheru. Mutariri akavhura mapenduru, achipinda nekunze kwezuva, uye Geoffrey Raymond akaenda kumusoro kwesimu yakashama yebureau. “Aichengeta mari yake saizvozvo, mune drawer isina kuvharwa. Fungidzira,” akadaro mutariri. Nhume yakapinda nekutsvuka. “VaAckroyd vaive ne kuvimbana kwakakwana kwevashandi vose,” akadaro achitsamwa. “Oh! zvechokwadi,” akadaro mutariri achikurumidza. Raymond akavhura drawer, akabuditsa bhokisi rekona rakakomberedza kubva kumashure kwaro, uye akavhura, akabuditsa wallet gobvu. “Heino mari,” akadaro, achibuditsa ruka-rwe rwezvinotaurwa. “Muchawana zana risina kuvhiringidzika, ndinoziva, nekuti Mr. Ackroyd akariisa mubhokisi rekona ari pamberi pangu nezuro manheru apo aipfeka kudya kwemanheru, uye zvechokwadi hazvina kubatwa kubva ipapo.” VaHammond vakatora ruka kubva kwaari uye vakairidza. Vakatarisa kumusoro. “Zana pounds, wakadaro. Asi pane makumi matanhatu chete.” Raymond akavatarisa. “Hazviite,” akadaro achisvetuka. Achitora zvinotaurwa kubva muruoko rwemumwe, akairidza achizere. VaHammond vakanga vari vechokwadi. Zvose zvakazadza zvikumi zvitanhatu. “Asi—handigoni kunzwisisa,” akadaro nhume, achivhiringidzika. Poirot akabvunza mubvunzo. “Wakaona VaAckroyd vachiisa mari iyi kumashure nezuro manheru apo vaipfeka kudya kwemanheru? Uri nechokwadi chekuti anga achiripo kare?” “Ndinovimba aisaripo. Akatozviti, ‘Handidi kutora zana pounds ndichidzika nazvo kudya kwemanheru. Zvakanyanya gobvu.’” “Zvino nyaya yacho iri nyore kwazvo,” akadaro Poirot. “Kana kuti akabhadhara makumi mana nezvaari nezuro manheru, kana kuti yakaba.” “Ndozviri mukati,” akadaro mutariri. Akatendeukira kuna Amai Ackroyd. “Ndiani sevashandi vaizouya pano nezuro manheru?” “Ndinofunga kuti mushandi wemba achadzikisa mubhedha.” “Ndiye ani? Zvaunoziva nezvake?” “Haana kugara pano kwenguva yakareba,” akadaro Amai Ackroyd. “Asi iye musikana akanaka wenyikawo.” “Ndinofunga tinofanira kuzvigadzirisa nyaya iyi,” akadaro mutariri. “Kana VaAckroyd vakazvibhadhara pachavo, zvinogona kunge zvine chinoreva pane zvakavhenganiswa. Vashandi vose vakaita sei, sekuziva kwako?” “Oh, ndinofunga.” “Hapana chakarasika kare?” “Kwete.” “Hapana kana mumwe wavo arikuenda, kana chimwe chinhu chakadai?” “The parlormaid arikuenda.” “Rini?” “Akapa ziviso nezuro, ndinofunga.” “Kwauri?” “Oh, kwete. handina basa nevashandi. Miss Russell anotarisira zvinhu zveimba.” Ini Mutariri akasara achifunga kwekanguva. Obva achimira ndokuti, “Ndinofunga ndinofanira kutaura naMiss Russell, uye ndichaonawo musikana anonzi Dale.” Poirot neni takamutevera kumumba yemuchengeti. Miss Russell akatiitira nesangvin-froid yake yakajairika. Elsie Dale akanga ari paFernly mwedzi mishanu. Musikana akanaka, achimhanyira mumabasa ake, uye anoremekedzwa zvikuru. Zvinyorwa zvakanaka. Musikana wekupedzisira panyika anotora chimwe chinhu chisiri chake. Ko the parlormaid? “Iye zvakare, aive musikana anoremekedzwa zvikuru. Akanyarara zvikuru uye achiita sezvakanaka. Mushandi akanaka.” “Zvino sei achienda?” akadaro mutariri. Miss Russell akasimudza muromo wake. “Kwanga kusiri basa rangu. Ndinonzwisisa kuti VaAckroyd vakawana chikanganiso kwaari nezuro masikati. Basa rake raive kuita study, uye akaparadza zvimwe zvinyorwa pa desk yake, ndinofunga. Akazvidzwa nazvo, uye akati mushandi. Kana kuti ndizvo zvandakazonzwa kubva kwaari, asi pamwe munoda kumuwona?” Mutariri akabvuma. Ndakanga ndatoona musikana apo aive achitishandira pakudya kwemanheru. Musikana murefu, ane bvudzi rakawanda rebhuruu rakakomberedzwa kumusoro kwetsvimbo yake, uye maziso akatsiga negrey. Akauya achitevera130 kudana kwemuchengeti, uye akamira akatsiga ne maziso iwayo egrey akatarisa kwauri. “Uri Ursula Bourne?” akadaro mutariri. “Eya, ishe.” “Ndinonzwisisa kuti muri kuenda?” “Eya, ishe.” “Nei?” “Ndakaparadza zvinyorwa pa desk yaVaAckroyd. Akazvidzwa nazvo, uye ndakati ndinofanira kuenda. Akandiudza kuti ndiende nokukurumidza.” “Wanga uri mukamuri raVaAckroyd zvachose nezuro manheru here? Kuchenesa kana chimwe chinhu?” “Kwete, ishe. Basa racho raElsie. Handina kuenda pedyo nechimwe chikamu cheimba.” “Ndinofanira kukuudza, musikana wangu, kuti mari yakakura yakarasika kubva mukamuri raVaAckroyd.” Pakupedzisira ndakaona achisimuka. Rusvingo rwe ruvara rwakayambuka kumeso kwake. “Hapana chandinoziva nezve mari. Kana uchifunga kuti ndakaitora, uye kuti ndicho chikonzero VaAckroyd akandidzinga, une nhema.” “Handiri kukuita mhosva yekutora, musikana wangu,” akadaro mutariri. “Usasvike ipapo.” Musikana akamutarisa achitonhora. “Unogona kutsvaga zvinhu zvangu kana uchida,” akadaro achizvidza. “Asi hamuzowana chinhu.” Poirot akangoerekana apindira. “Ndiwo masikati nezuro apo VaAckroyd vakakudzinga—kana kuti imi makadzingana, handizvo?” akadaro. Musikana akagutsuruka. “Yakareba sei nhaurirano?” “Nhaurirano?” “Eya, nhaurirano pakati pako naVaAckroyd mufundisi?” “Ini—handizivi.” “Maminitsi makumi maviri? Hafu yeawa?” “Chimwe chinhu chakadai.” “Kwete kwenguva yakareba?” “Kwete kwenguva yakareba kudarika hafu yeawa, zvechokwadi.” “Ndatenda, mademoiselle.” Ndakatarisa kwaari achishamisika. Akanga achigadzirisa zvimwe zvinhu patafura, achizvisimbisa nezvigunwe zvake zvakapatsanurika. Maziso ake akanga achipenya. “Izvo zvichakwana,” akadaro mutariri. Ursula Bourne akaparara. Mutariri akatendeukira kuna Miss Russell. “Yakareba sei aigara pano? Makawana kopi ye reference yamakawana naye?” Pasina kupindura mubvunzo wekutanga, Miss Russell akatamira kune bureau pedyo, akavhura imwe yemashati, uye akabuditsa ruoko rwezvivimbiso zvakabatanidzwa ne fastener yemakwikwi. Akasarudza chimwe uye akachiisa kuna mutariri. “H’m,” akadaro. “Zvakaverengeka zvakanaka. Amai Richard Folliott, Marby Grange, Marby. Ndiyani mukadzi uyu?” “Vanhu vakanaka vedunhu,” akadaro Miss Russell. “Zvakanaka,” akadaro mutariri, achidzosera shure, “ngatitarisei pane mumwe, Elsie Dale.” Elsie Dale aive musikana mukuru, akakora, ane chiso chinofadza asi132 icho chisinganzwisisike. Akapindura mibvunzo yedu nokukurumidza, uye akaridza kusuruvara kukuru nekushungurudzika pakurasikirwa nemari. “Ndinofunga kuti hapana chakaipa naye,” akadaro mutariri, mushure mekunge amudzinga. “Ko Parker?” Miss Russell akasimudza muromo wake uye haana kupindura. “Ndinonzwa pane chimwe chakaipa nezve murume uyu,” akadaro mutariri achifunga. “Dambudziko nderekuti handisati ndaziva kuti akawana mukana wei. Aive busy nezvibvumirano zvake pakarepo mushure mekudya kwemanheru, uye ane alibi yakanaka manheru ese. Ndozvinoziva, nekuti ndanga ndichipa chitsananguro chakakosha kwairi. Zvakanaka, ndatenda zvikuru, Miss Russell. Tichasiya zvinhu sezvazviri parizvino. Zviri pachena kuti VaAckroyd vakazvibhadhara pachavo.” Muchengeti akatiudza masikati akakora, uye takabva. Ndakasiya imba naPoirot. “Ndinotenda,” ndakadaro, ndichityora kureruka, “chii nezve zvinyorwa izvo musikana akaparadza zvinogona kunge zviri zveAckroyd kuti akazvitsamwira kudaro? Ndinofunga kana
