UKUBULALA KAKHONDO ROGER ACKROYD - NDIFUMANA UMSEBENZI WOMMELWANE WAM Astounding Stories of Super-Science October 2022, by Astounding Stories iyinginxenye yochungechunge lwezithangami zeNcwadi yeHackerNoon. Ungatsiba kulo nawuphi na umhlathi kule ncwadi . apha Izindaba Ezimangalisayo zeSayensi yeSuper Okthoba 2022: UKUBULALA KAKHONDO ROGER ACKROYD - NDIFUMANA UMSEBENZI WOMMELWANE WAM ngu Agatha Christie Ngentsasa elandelayo ndagxeka kakhulu umjikelo wam. Ingxaki yam ingaba andizange ndibe naziphi na izikhalazo ezinzima. Ndibuyile kwindlu yobomi uCaroline wangena eholweni ukuza kundikhawulela. “UFlora Ackroyd ukhona,” watsho ephimisa ngempintshisi emdla. “Kutheni?” Ndazama ukuyigquma ingaba ndiyayoyika ndangakwazi kakuhle kangangoko. “Unolangazelelo olukhulu lokukubona. Usele eyimithintal’ intshiyeni.” UK Caroline wandikhokelela kwigumbi lethu lokuhlala elincinci, ndalandela. UFlora wayehleli phezu kwebhodi ngasefestile. Wayenxibe imnyama wayehlala esongisa izandla zakhe ngokungakhathali. Ndothuka kukuphathwa kwakhe ubuso bakhe. Zonke izinto zemibala zavaleka. Kodwa xa ethetha kwakunjani konke ukuzola nokuzimisela kangangoko. “Gqirha. Sheppard, ndize kukucela undincede.” “Ngokuqinisekileyo uza kukunceda, ntombazana yam,” watsho uCaroline. Andicingi ukuba uFlora wayefuna ngokwenene ukuba uCaroline abe khona kwintshumayelo. Ndiyakholwa, wayenokukhetha ukuthetha nam ngokobuqu. Kodwa wayefuna ukungachithi xesha, ngoko wenjenjalo ukwenza okusemandleni akhe. “Ndifuna uhambe nam eThe Larches.” “Ithe Larches?” Ndabuza ndothukile. “Ukubona le ndoda encinci iyimfihlakalo?” watsho uCaroline. “Ewe. Uyazi ukuba ungubani, akunjalo?” “Sasicinga,” ndatsho ndathi, “ukuba wayeyindoda eyayizichitha kwiinwele.” Amehlo kaFlora aluhlaza avulwa kakhulu. “Hayi, ungumfuduki ka Hercule Poirot! Uyazi ukuba ndithetha ngoobani—umphandi wamapolisa. Bathetha ukuba wenze izinto ezimangalisayo—njengoko abaphandi benza kwiincwadi. Unyaka odlulileyo wagqiba waza wafudukela ukuzohlala apha. Uncle wayazi ukuba ungubani, kodwa wathembisa ukuba akukho mntu uza kusazisa, kuba uM. Poirot wayefuna ukuhlala ngokuthula ngaphandle kokugxekwa ngabantu.” “Ngoko ke unguye ke lo,” ndatsho ndancinci. “Uve ngaye, kambe?” “Ndiyindoda endala, njengoko uCaroline endixelela,” ndatsho ndathi, “kodwa ndiyeve ngaye.” “Kubalulekile!” watsho uCaroline. Andazi ukuba wayebhekisa ngantoni—mhlawumbi ukungakwazi kwakhe ukufumana inyani. “Ufuna ukuya kumbona?” Ndabuza ndancinci. “Ngoku kutheni?” “Ukumenza aphande ngalo mbulali, kambe,” watsho uCaroline ejonge phantsi. “Sukudlala, James.” Andizange ndidlale. UK Caroline akabanga eluqonda ngaso sonke isihlandlo oko ndikufunayo. “Awukhololisi kumthetho uDavis?” Ndadudula. “Kambe akakhololisi,” watsho uCaroline. “Nam andikhololisi.” Nangubani na wayengacinga ukuba ngumnumzana kaCaroline obulaliweyo. “Kwaye uthini ukuba angathatha ityala?” Ndabuza. “Khumbula ukuba ugqibele ukusebenza.” “Yiloo nto kanye,” watsho uFlora ngolwimi oluhle. “Ndimele ndimnyanzele.” “Unguqinisekile ukuba wenjenjalo?” Ndabuza ngendlela enobutyala. “Ngokuqinisekileyo uyenjenjalo,” watsho uCaroline. “Ndiza kuhamba naye ngokwam ukuba uyakholisa.” “Ndingakhetha ukuba ugqirha ahambe nam ukuba uyavuma, Mnu. Sheppard,” watsho uFlora. Uyasazi ixabiso lokuba ngqo ngeentlobo ezithile. Naziphi na izimvo ziza kulahleka ku Caroline. “Uyabona,” wachaza, elandela ubuntununtunu ngokuthobeka, “ugqirha. Sheppard ke njengogqirha, kwaye sele efunyenwe umzimba, angakwazi ukunika zonke iinkcukacha kuye ku M. Poirot.” “Ewe,” watsho uCaroline engathandanga, “ndiyayibona loo nto.” Ndaqala ndajikeleza igumbi. “Flora,” ndatsho ngobutyala, “lalela mna. Ndicebisa ukuba ungayijongi le ndoda iphandayo kwityala.” UFlora wagxuma ngonyawo. Umbala wabuya emehlweni akhe. “Ndiyazi ukuba uthetha ngantoni,” watsho ephefumla. “Kodwa yiyo loo nto ndinqwenela ukuya. Uyayoyika! Ndiyakholisa. Ndiyamazi uRalph kunakuwe.” “URalph,” watsho uCaroline. “UNenani uRalph enento yakhe?” Aba kanye kuthi abazange bamphulaphule. “URalph angayisoko,” waqhubeka uFlora. “Angakwenzi izinto ezimbi kwixesha elidlulileyo—izinto ezimbi ezimbi—kodwa akazukubulala nabani.” “Hayi, hayi,” ndatsho ndikhalima. “Andizange ndicinge ngoko kuye.” “Ngoko kutheni uye kwiinduli ezintathu izolo ebusuku?” Watsho uFlora, “endleleni yakho ekhaya—emva kokuba umzimba ka uncle ufuniwe?” Ndakhukhumala ngomzuzwana. Ndandiyathemba ukuba loo ndwendwe yam lwaluzokuhlala lungaziswanga. “Uthini ukuyazi loo nto?” Ndabuza. “Ndiye khona kusasa,” watsho uFlora. “Ndoziva kubasebenzi ukuba uRalph ubeyehlala khona——” Ndammisa. “Ubuye ungazanga ukuba useKing’s Abbot?” “Hayi. Ndothuka. Andizange ndiyiqonde. Ndahamba apho ndacela ngaye. Babetsho, endibona ukuba babebethetha ngoku kwakwakujolise ngoku kwiintsuku ezingama-21 zikaAgasti—kwaye—kwaye abazange babuyele.” Amehlo akhe adibana nam ngendlela yobulungu, njengokungathi ukhawuleza ukuyiphendula into ethile kukuphangela kwami, waqhuma wathi:— “Kambe kutheni engekongeko? Angayeka—naphi na. Angase ayekele eLondon.” “Ukushiya impahla yakhe?” Ndabuza ngobuntu. UFlora wagquma ngonyawo. “Andikhathali. Kufanele kube nenkcazo elula.” “Kwaye yiyo loo nto ufuna ukuya ku Hercule Poirot?79 Akungcono ukushiya izinto njengoko zinjalo? Amapolisa akakrokri uRalph neze, khumbula. Basebenza ngendlela eyahlukileyo.” “Kodwa yiyo kanye loo nto,” watsho intombazana. “Bayakrokra kuye. Indoda evela eCranchester yavela kusasa—umphandi uRaglan, indoda encinci enobubi. Ndafumanisa ukuba ibiye kwiinduli ezintathu kusasa ngaphambi kwam. Bandixelela yonke into malunga nokuba khona kwayo apho, nemibuzo awayibuzayo. Kumele acele ukuba uRalph wenze njalo.” “Loo nto iyinto eyahlukileyo ukusuka izolo ebusuku, ukuba kunjalo,” ndatsho ndancinci. “Akakhololisi kwidabi lika Davis ukuba ngu Parker ngoko?” “U Parker ke,” watsho udade wethu, waza waqhaqhaqha. UFlora wafika phambili wabeka isandla esihlangwini sam. “Oh! Gqirha. Sheppard, sihambe ngoku siyokuba nomngqali. Uza kufumana inyani.” “Mntwana wam Flora,” ndatsho ngobuntu, ndibeka isandla sam kwakhe. “Unguqinisekile ukuba yinyani esiyifunayo?” Undibukele, ngendlela enobutyala. “Awukho uqinisekile,” watsho. “Ndinguqinisekile. Ndiyamazi uRalph kunakuwe.” “Ngokuqinisekileyo akazange akwenze,” watsho uCaroline, owayehlala ethe cwaka ngobunzima obukhulu. “URalph angaba yinto eqhelekileyo, kodwa ngumfana othandekayo, kwaye unendlela zokuziphatha ezincomekayo.” Ndifuna ukuxelela u Caroline ukuba inani elikhulu lababulali liye laba nendlela zokuziphatha ezincomekayo, kodwa ubukho buka Flora bandithintela. Kude kube intombazana iyayithanda, ndanyanzeleka ukuba ndivumelane naye saza sagoduka, siyeke ngaphambi kokuba udade wethu akwazi ukubuyisela eminye imilumeli80 iqala ngamazwi akhe awathandayo, “Kambe ke.” Indoda endala enenkxaso enkulu yaseBreton yovula umnyango weThe Larches kuthi. UM. Poirot wayekhaya, kubonakala. Sangena kwigumbi elincinci lokuhlala elilungiswe ngokuchanekileyo, kwaye apho, emva kwesikhathi esiyimizuzu embalwa, umhlobo wam wezolo wafika kuthi. “UMonsieur le docteur,” watsho ehleka. “UMademoiselle.” Wagoba ku Flora. “Mhlawumbi,” ndaqala ndathi, “uve ngelishwa elenzeke izolo ebusuku.” Ubuso bakhe baba nzima. “Kodwa ngokuqinisekileyo ndive. Kubi kakhulu. Ndibonelela u mademoiselle ngovelwano lwam. Ndingakunceda ngantoni?” “UMis Ackroyd,” ndatsho ndithi, “ufuna ukuba—ukuba——” “Ukufumana umbulali,” watsho u Flora ngelizwi elicacileyo. “Ndiyayibona,” watsho le ndoda encinci. “Kodwa amapolisa azakuyenza oko, akunjalo?” “Banga yenza impazamo,” watsho uFlora. “Baye endleleni yokwenza impazamo ngoku, ndicinga. Nceda, M. Poirot, ngekhe ungandinceda? Ukuba—ukuba yingxaki yemali——” UPoirot waliphakamisa isandla sakhe. “Hayi loo nto, ndiyakucela, mademoiselle. Hayi ukuba andikhathali ngemali.” Amehlo akhe abonisa ukukhanya kwengqondo. “Imali, oko kuthetha okuninzi kum kwaye kwakunjalo kudala. Hayi, ukuba ndiyayifaka oku, kufanele uqonde into enye ngokucacileyo. <em>Ndiyakubuyela kude kube sekupheleni.</em> Inja entle, ayilushiyi uvumba, khumbula! Ungafuna, emva kwako konke, ukuba ubushiyile kwamapolisa asekhaya.” “Ndifuna inyani,” watsho uFlora, embukela emehlweni. “Konke inyani?” “Konke inyani.” “Ngoko ke ndiyayikholisa,” watsho le ndoda encinci ngendlela ethobekileyo. “Kwaye ndiyathemba ukuba ngeke uzililele loo mazwi. Ngoku, ndixelele zonke izinto.” “UGqirha. Sheppard kungcono ukuba axelele wena,” watsho uFlora. “Uazi kakhulu kunam.” Ngoko ke ndangena kancinci kwiindaba ezichanekileyo, ndandifaka zonke iinkcukacha endizichazileyo ngaphambili. UPoirot walalela ngokukhuthala, ebuzela umbuzo apha naphaya, kodwa kakhulu ukuhlala ethe cwaka, amehlo akhe enqwelo phezulu. Ndabuyisa ibali lam ngokuhamba komphandi nam ukusuka eFernly Park izolo ebusuku. “Kwaye ngoku,” watsho uFlora, xa ndagqiba, “mcele ngakho konke ngo Ralph.” Ndathula, kodwa ukujonga kwakhe okunzima kwandikhuthaza. “Waya kwelo hotele—le yindlu emithathu—izolo ebusuku endleleni yakho ekhaya?” Watsho uPoirot, xa ndigqiba ibali lam. “Kutheni kanye lento?” Ndathula umzuzu ukuze ndikhethe amagama am ngononophelo. “Ndicinge ukuba kufanele ubonelele umfana ngezindaba zokufa komalume wakhe. Kwacaca kum emva kokuba ndigqibile82 eFernly ukuba mhlawumbi akukho mntu ngaphandle kwam no Mnu. Ackroyd wayezazi ukuba ubeyehlala kwilali.” UPoirot wanqekisa intloko. “Kunjalo. Yiyo loo nto nje kuphela leyo yokuba apho, eh?” “Yiyo loo nto nje kuphela leyo,” ndatsho ndibukhali. “Ayizange ibe yeyona—masithethe—ukuzikholisa ngokuphathelele ?” le jeune homme “Ukuzikholisa?” “Ndicinga, M. le docteur, ukuba uyazi kakuhle ukuba ndithetha ngantoni, nangona uzama ukungaliboni. Ndiyacebisa ukuba kungaba yinto elungele wena ukuba ufumanisa ukuba uKapteni Paton wayengasekho kwindlu lonke ixesha.” “Andikunjalo,” ndatsho ndibukhali. Umphandi omncinci wanqekisa intloko kum ngobutyala. “Awunayo ithemba kum elo likaMnu. Flora,” watsho. “Kodwa akukho nto. Into ekufanele siyijonge yile—uKapteni Paton uyanyamalala, phantsi kwezinto ezifuna inkcazo. Andizukukufihla ukuba le nto ibonakala nzima. Kambe ke, ingavuma inkcazo elula.” “Yiyo loo nto nje ndizisoloko nditsho,” watsho uFlora ngokungxama. UPoirot akazange aphinde athi nto ngelo thuba. Endaweni koko wacebisa ukutyelela amapolisa ngoko nangoko. Wayecinga ukuba kungcono uFlora abuye akhaya, kwaye ndinguye ozakuhamba naye apho ndize ndimazise kumphathi wecala. Senze le sicwangciso ngoko nangoko. Safumana umphandi uDavis engaphandle kwesikhululo samapolisa ejonge kakhulu. Kunye naye kwakukho uKoloneli Melrose, umphathi omkhulu,83 kunye nenye indoda, evela kwinkcazo ka Flora ethi “enyanyekayo,” andizange ndibe nobunzima bokubona njengomphandi uRaglan wase Cranchester. Ndiyamazi u Melrose kakuhle, ndaze ndamzisa uPoirot kuye ndachaza imeko. Umphathi omkhulu wayelungile, kwaye umphandi uRaglan wayebonakala njengomnyama njengokuduma. UDavis, nangona kunjalo, wayebonakala echulumancile kancinci kukubona ukudinwa komphathi wakhe omkhulu. “Ityala liza kuba licace njengentonga yentloko,” watsho uRaglan. “Akukho sidingo neze sobungcali ukuza kungenelela. Ungacinga ukuba nayiphi na intloko ingabona indlela izinto ezazinjalo izolo ebusuku, kwaye ke singabanga salahla iiyure ezilishumi elinesibini.” Wajonga ngonqanqangi kumthetho ka Davis ongumcinga, lowo wawamkela ngokuthobeka okupheleleyo. “Usapho luka Mnu. Ackroyd kufanele, kambe, lukwenze njengoko lubona kulungile,” watsho uKoloneli Melrose. “Kodwa asinakho ukuphazanyiswa nakuphi na ukuphononongwa kwesigqibo. Ndiyamazi u M. Poirot, kambe,” watsho egqibelele. “Amapolisa akakwazi ukuzihlalutya, kakubi,” watsho uRaglan. Kwaba ngu Poirot lowo wasindisa imeko. “Kuyinyani ukuba ndizikhuphe ehlabathini,” watsho. “Andizange ndiyicelele ityala kwakhona. Ngaphezu kwayo yonke into, ndiyayoyika inkangeleko. Ndicela ukuba, ukuba ndiyakwazi ukugqibelela into kwisisombululo semfihlakalo, igama lam lingakhankanywa.” Ubuso buka Raglan bavuleka kancinci. “Ndive ngeempumelelo ezininzi ezimangalisayo zakho,” watsho ugqibelele, ethambisa. “Ndibe namava amaninzi,” watsho uPoirot ngobuntu. “Kodwa uninzi lweempumelelo zam belubona ngamapolisa. Ndiyayihlonipha kakhulu amapolisa akho aseNgilane. Ukuba umphandi uRaglan undivumele ukuba ndimncede, ndingakhe ndibongwe kwaye ndingadumise.” Ubuso buka ngumpahandi baba nobumnandi obungakumbi. UKoloneli Melrose wanditsalela ecaleni. “Kuzo zonke izinto endizivayo, le ndoda encinci yenze izinto ezimangalisayo zokwenyani,” watsho ngobuso obumnyama. “Singalungele ukuba singayidingi iScotland Yard. URaglan ubonakala ezaziyo kakhulu, kodwa andiqinisekanga ukuba ndiyakholisa naye. Uyabona, ndiyayazi—er—abantu ababandakanyekayo kunaye. Le ndoda ayibonakali igxile kwiindaba, akunjalo? Ingadala ukuba isebenze nathi ngendlela yokungazibonisi, eh?” “Ngenxa yengqumbo enkulu ka Mphandi uRaglan,” ndatsho ngobutyala. “Kambe, kambe,” watsho uKoloneli Melrose ngendlela yokugabha ngelizwi eliphakamileyo, “kufanele sikubeke kwii-mveliso zamva nje, M. Poirot.” “Ndiyabulela,” watsho uPoirot. “Umhlobo wam, UGqirha. Sheppard, uthe into malunga nomsebenzi omkhulu wokuba uyaboniswa?” “Le yinto engekhoyo,” watsho uRaglan ngoko nangoko. “Aba basebenzi abaphezulu bangena ngonxunguphalo kangangokuba benza njengengoqiqo ngaphandle kwesizathu.” “Iimbumba zezandla?” Ndabuzela. “Akukho nto ifana ne Parker.” Wancuma kancinci, waza85 wongeza: “Kwaye owakho no Mnu. Raymond awufani, ugqirha.” “Kutheni malunga neza ka Kapteni Ralph Paton?” Watsho uPoirot ngobuntu. Ndabona ukudumisa okufihlakeleyo kwindlela awayeyithatha ngayo ibhubhise. Ndabona inkangeleko yokuhlonipha ingena emehlweni omphandi. “Ndiyabona ukuba awuvumele utyani ukuba bukhule phantsi kweenyawo zakho, Mnu. Poirot. Kuza kuba yinkonzo ukusebenza nawe, ndiyakholisa. Siza kuthatha iimbumba zezandla zale nkwenkwe ngokukhawuleza xa singakwazi ukuyibamba.” “Andikwazi ukuqonda ukuba uyimpazamo, mphandi,” watsho uKoloneli Melrose ngokunqwenela. “Ndiyamazi uRalph Paton ukusuka ebuntwaneni. Angeke angayeka ukubulala.” “Mhlawumbi hayi,” watsho umphandi ngendlela yokungadibanisi. “Unento na kuwe?” Ndabuza. “Waphuma kanye kwiyeza izolo ebusuku. Wabonwa kumda weFernly Park ngentsimbi yentsimbi. Akazange abonwe ukusukela ngoko. Kukholelwa ukuba uneengxaki ezinzima zemali. Ndinombhobho wakhe wesipere apha—izipere ezinezihlalo zerubha. Wayenezipere ezimbini, phantse zifane kakhulu. Ndiyakunyuka ngoku ukuzithelekisa nezimbalasane. Umlobi uphantsi apho ebona ukuba akukho mntu uzakukwazi ukuzitshintsha.” “Siza kuya ngoko nangoko,” watsho uKoloneli Melrose. “Wena no M. Poirot ningahamba nathi, akunjalo?” Samemelela, saza sonke saya emotweni ka Koloneli. Umphandi wayenqwenela ukuya ngoko nangoko kwiimbasa, wacela ukuba sibekwe ngasekupheleni kwelokishi. Phakathi kwendlela ukuya ngasekunene, kwakukho indlela eyayiphuma86 yayisiya ejikeleza kwicala letshathi kunye nefestile yegumbi lika Ackroyd. “Ungathanda ukuya nomphandi, M. Poirot?” Watsho umphathi omkhulu, “okanye ungakhetha ukuphonononga igumbi?” UPoirot wakhetha inketho yokugqibela. UPaker wavula umnyango kuthi. Indlela yakhe yayimnandi yaye iyantlukwano, yaye kubonakala ngathi ubuyele esiphandleni sakhe esivela ngobusuku obungaphambili. UKoloneli Melrose wathatha isitshixo ephunzini lakhe, wavula umnyango owawukhokelela kwilobi, wasngenisa sagqithisa kwigumbi. “Ngaphandle kokususwa komzimba, M. Poirot, eli gumbi belingekanjalo njengobunjalo bazolo.” “Kwaye umzimba wafunyanwa—phi?” Ngobuchule obungaphezu kokubala, ndachaza indawo ka Ackroyd. Isitulo esingakugqabukanga sasohlala phambi komlilo. UPoirot wafika wayohlala kulo. “Umbhalo oluhlaza obuthetha ngawo, wawunjani xa usuka egumbini?” “UMnu. Ackroyd wawubekile phezu kwesi sitalato esincinci ngasekunene kwakhe.” UPoirot wanqekisa intloko. “Ngaphandle kwaloo nto, yonke into yayikwiindawo zayo?” “Ewe, ndicinga njalo.” “UKoloneli Melrose, ungaba nobubele obungaphezu kokubala ukuhlala kwesi situlo umzuzwana. Ndiyabulela. Ngoku, M. le docteur, ungathini undikhombise indawo echanekileyo yekrele?” Ndenjenjalo, ngelixa le ndoda encinci yayimi emnyango. “Isibambo sekrele sasibonakala ngokucacileyo emnyango ngoko? Wena no Parker ningasibona ngoko nangoko?” “Ewe.” UPoirot wafika ngefestile. “Ukukhanya kukagesi kwakuvuliwe, kambe, xa wafumana umzimba?” Watsho phezu kwehlombe lakhe. Ndabuyisela, ndaza ndajoyina apho wayefunda khona amanqaku esitalo. “Izihlangu zerubha zifana nazo nezicathulo zikaKapteni Paton,” watsho ngobuntu. Ngoko wabuyela ngakumbi kumbindi wegumbi. Iliso lakhe lajikeleza, likhangela yonke into egumbini ngamehlo achanekileyo, aqeqeshiweyo. “Ungumntu wokujonga kakuhle, Gqirha. Sheppard?” Watsho ekugqibeleni. “Ndicinga njalo,” ndatsho ndothukile. “Bekukho umlilo kwindlu yomlilo, ndiyabona. Xa waphula umnyango waza wafumana uMnu. Ackroyd efile, kwakunjani umlilo? Ubunqine?” Ndathula ngehlekiso elidiniweyo. “Nd—ndiyakholisa ukuthi andikwazi ukutsho. Andizange ndiyibone. Mhlawumbi uMnu. Raymond okanye uMajor Blunt——” Le ndoda encinci ejonge kum yanqekisa intloko ngoncumo oluncinci. “Kufanele siqhubeke ngendlela. Ndadala impazamo yokundibuza loo mbuzo. Kumntu ngamnye ulwazi lwakhe. Ungandixelela iinkcukacha zenkangeleko yesigulana—akukho nto apho ingazukubona. Ukuba bendifuna ulwazi malunga namaphepha akwesi sitalato, uMnu. Raymond wayengabona nantoni88 egama ibingakhona. Ukufumana ulwazi malunga nomlilo, kufanele ndibuze indoda ekuyiyona umsebenzi wakhe ukubona izinto ezinjalo. Uyavuma——” Waya ngoko nangoko kwindawo yomlilo waza wabiza intsimbi. Emva kwemizuzwana embalwa uParker wavela. “Intsimbi ibizile, mnumzana,” watsho ephimisa. “Ngena, Parker,” watsho uKoloneli Melrose. “Le ndoda encinci ufuna ukukubuza into.” UParker wagqithiselwa ngomdla wokuhlonipha ku Poirot. “Parker,” watsho le ndoda encinci, “xa wawuphula umnyango no Gqirha. Sheppard izolo ebusuku, wafumana inkosi yakho ifile, kwakunjani umlilo?” UParker waphendula ngaphandle kokuzotha. “Ububushushu kakhulu, mnumzana. Babesekude ukuphuma.” “Ah!” watsho uPoirot. Ukukhutshwa kwakubonakala ngathi kumnandi. Waqhubeka:— “Khangele ngeenxa zonke, Parker wam olungileyo. Igumbi liyenjenje njengoko bekunjalo ngoko?” Iliso lomcebi lajikeleza. Lazinzela kwiifestile. “Iikhethini zadlalwa, mnumzana, kwaye ukukhanya kukagesi kwakuvuliwe.” UPoirot wanqekisa intloko yengqwalaselo. “Ngaphandle kwaloo nto?” “Ewe, mnumzana, esi situlo sasitsalwe ngaphandle kancinci kakhulu.” Wabonisa isitulo sikagogo esikhulu ngasekhohlo komnyango phakathi kwesitulo kunye nefestile. Ndikhangela isicwangciso segumbi kunye nesitulo esinikwe imeko ka-X. “Khangele undibonise,” watsho uPoirot. Umcebi watwela isitulo esinikwe ngaphandle kwiinyawo ezimbini ezinkulu ukusuka eludongeni, siyijikeleza ukuze isihlalo sijonge emnyango. “<em>Voilà ce qui est curieux</em>
