```html UKUBULALA KUKA-ROGER ACKROYD - IPARLORMAID Ibali eliMangalisayo leNzululwazi yeNzululwazi ka-Oktobha 2022, yiIbali eliMangalisayo liinxalenye yothotho lweBhlogi yeNcwadi yeHackerNoon. Unokutsiba kulo naliphi na isahluko kule ncwadi . apha Ibali eliMangalisayo leNzululwazi yeNzululwazi ka-Oktobha 2022: UKUBULALA KUKA-ROGER ACKROYD - IPARLORMAID ngu Agatha Christie Safumanisa uNksk. Ackroyd ehla. Wayenaye indoda encinci eyomileyo, enentshina enamandla kunye namehlo angwevu, kwaye kubonakala ukuba ngumalawuli wezomthetho. “UMnu. Hammond uhlala esidla isidlo sasemini nathi,” watsho uNksk. Ackroyd. “Uyamazi uMajor Blunt, Mnu. Hammond? Kunye noGqirha omthandayo uSheppard—nguwo umhlobo kaRoger othandekayo. Kwaye, mandibone——” Wathula, ejonga uHercule Poirot ngokudideka okuthile. “Lo nguM. Poirot, mama,” watsho uFlora. “Ndixelele ngaye kusasa.” “Ooh! ewe,” watsho uNksk. Ackroyd ngokungakhathali. “Ewe, my dear, ewe. Uza kumfumana uRalph, akunjalo?” “Uza kufumanisa ukuba ngubani obulele umalume,” watsho uFlora. “Ooh! my dear,” yakhala unina. “Nceda! Imithambo yam emihle. Ndiyabhubha kusasa, ndiyabhubha ngempela. Into eyothusayo kangaka eyenzekileyo. Andikwazi ukuncedisa kodwa ndicinge ukuba bekumele kube yingozi yohlobo oluthile. URoger wayethanda kakhulu ukubamba izinto ezingaqhelekanga. Isandla sakhe kumele sibe sikhululwe, okanye into enjalo.” Le ncwadi yamkelwe ngokuthula. Ndabona uPoirot esondela kumlawuli, ethetha naye ngelizwi elithobekileyo. Bahamba babuyela kwindawo yokuhlala ethe ngenye indawo. Ndadibana nabo—sandula ukuthandabuza. “Mhlawumbi ndiyaphazamisa,” ndatsho. “Konke kulungile,” watsho uPoirot ngokuvakalayo. “Wena nam, M. le docteur, siphakamisa le nto side. Ngaphandle kwakho bendingabi nako ukwenza nto. Ndifuna ulwazi oluthile kumlawuli olungileyo uHammond.” “Usebenza egameni likaKapteni Ralph Paton, ndiyayiqonda,” watsho umlawuli ngononophelo. UPoirot wanxungunaxa intloko. “Hayi. Ndiwasebenzela ubulungisa. UNkosikazi Ackroyd undicele ukuba ndiphakamise ukufa kukamalume wakhe.” UMnu. Hammond wabonakala ngathi uthatyathwe yile nto. “Andikholelwa ukuba uKapteni Paton angabandakanyeka kule ntlekele,” watsho, “nokuba ubungqina obungqinisileyo bubuchasene naye bungakanani na. Into yokuba wayenamatyala—" “Wayenamatyala?” wabuza ngokukhawuleza uPoirot. Umalawuli wanxungunaxa izihlahla zakhe. “Bekukho nto ibalulekileyo kuRalph Paton,” watsho ngokuzolisa. “Imali yayidlula ezandleni zakhe njengamanzi. Wayesoloko ecela kumkhulu wakhe.” “Wayekuqhele ukwenza oku kutshanje? Kulo nyaka uphelileyo, umzekelo?” “Andikwazi ukutsho. UMnu. Ackroyd akazange andixelele.” “Ndiyayiqonda. Mnu. Hammond, ndicinga ukuba uyayazi imiqathango yomdumo kaMnu. Ackroyd?” “Ewe. Loo nto ibubungqina bam obukhulu namhlanje.” “Ngoko ke, njengoko ndisebenza kaNksk. Ackroyd, ngekhe ukunyakalele ukundixelela imiqathango yomdumo?” “Ilula kakhulu. Ingqumiso yomthetho, emva kokuhlawula izipho ezithile—" “Njengokuthi—?” waphalaza uPoirot. UMnu. Hammond wabonakala ngathi unemangaliso. “Iphawundi elinye kumphathi wakhe wendlu, uNksk. Russell; amashumi amahlanu emali kuMpheki, uEmma Cooper; amakhulu amahlanu emali kumfundisi wakhe, uMnu. Geoffrey Raymond. Emva koko kwiimbhedlela ezahlukeneyo—” UPoirot waphakamisa isandla sakhe. “Aha! izipho zoncimi, andizithandi.” “Ewe. Imali engenayo kumawaka alishumi emali ziya kuhlawulwa kuNksk. Cecil Ackroyd ngexesha lobomi bakhe. UNkosikazi Flora Ackroyd uya kufumana amashumi amabini amawaka emali ngqo. Eseleyo—kubandakanya le ndawo, kunye neendaba kwiAckroyd and Son—kumntwana wakhe omkhulu, uRalph Paton.” “UMnu. Ackroyd wayenengxowa enkulu?” “Ingxowa enkulu kakhulu. UKapteni Paton uya kuba yindoda enempahla kakhulu.” Kwaba kuthuleka. UPoirot nomlawuli bajongana. “Mnu. Hammond,” kwavakala ilizwi likaNksk. Ackroyd lisuka kwindawo yomlilo. Umalawuli waphendula isimemo. UPoirot wathatha ingalo yam wanditsala kwindawo yokuhlala ethe ngenye indawo. “Jonga ii-irises,” watsho ngelizwi elikhulu kakhulu. “Zimangalisa, akunjalo? Ifuthe elithe ngqo nelibonakalayo.” Ngelo xesha ndaziva intshukumo yesandla sakhe engalweni yam, kwaye wafaka ngelizwi eliphantsi:— “Ngaba ufuna ngokwenene ukundinceda? Ukuthatha inxaxheba kolu phando?” “Ewe, ngokwenene,” ndatsho ngokungxama. “Akukho nto ndingathanda ukuyenza. Awazi ubomi obungangamnandi njani obumi bomntu omdala obufana nam. Akukho nto ingaqhelekanga.” “Kulungile, siza kuba ngamaqabane ngoko. Kwiindawo ezimbalwa ndicinga ukuba uMajor Blunt uza kusijoyina. Akonwabanga nomama olungileyo. Ngoku zizinto ezithile endifuna ukuzazi—kodwa andifuni kuvele ndifuna ukuzazi. Uyayiqonda? Ngoko ke kuya kuba yinxalenye yakho ukubuza imibuzo.” “Ziziphi izibuzo ongafuna ndizibuze?” ndabuza ngokunqandeka. “Ndifuna uthumele igama likaNksk. Ferrars.” “Ewe?” “Thetha ngaye ngendlela eqhelekileyo. Mbuze ukuba wayekho apha xa umyeni wakhe efa. Uyayiqonda into endithethayo. Kwaye ngelixa ephendula, jonga ubuso bakhe ungabonakali ubukele. ” Uyayiqonda? Akubanga nexesha elingaphezulu, kuba ngalo mzuzu, njengoko uPoirot ayeprofeziwe, uBlunt washiya abanye ngendlela yakhe eyayikukukhawuleza wayeza kuthi. Ndacela ukuba sihangalaze kwiholo yothungelwano, kwaye wavuma. UPoirot wasala emva. Ndafumana ndinjani ukujonga ipetunias yakutshanje. “Izinto ziyatshintsha njani phakathi kosuku olunye okanye ezimbini,” ndatsho. “Bekukho apha ngeCawa ephelileyo, ndiyakhumbula, ndihamba kule holi yothungelwano efanayo. Ackroyd wayenayo122 kunye nam—egcwele umoya. Kwaye ngoku—iintsuku ezintathu kamva—Ackroyd ufile, mfo othandekayo, uNksk. Ferrars ufile—wambona, akunjalo? Kodwa ngokwenene wenzile.” UBlunt wanxungunaxa intloko. “Ubembonile emva kokuba uze apha ngeli xesha?” “Ndaya noAckroyd ukundwendwela. NgeCawa ephelileyo, ndicinga. Indoda eyothusayo—kodwa kukho into engaziwayo ngayo. Yinzulu—ngekhe uyazi ukuba yayenza ntoni.” Ndakhangela emehlweni akhe angwevu. Akukho nto ngokuqinisekileyo. Ndaqhubeka:— “Ndiyaqikelela ukuba ububonile ngaphambili.” “Okokugqibela xa ndandikho—bona nomyeni wabo babesele begqibile ukuba beze kuhlala apha.” Waphefumla umzuzwana waza wafaka: “Into engaqhelekanga, wayetshintshile kakhulu phakathi kwelo xesha nangoku.” “Uguqukele njani?” ndabuza. “Wayebonakala uneminyaka elishumi ubudala.” “Ubude apha xa umyeni wakhe efa?” ndabuza, ndizama ukwenza umbuzo ube njengesiqhelo. “Hayi. Kuko konke endikuvayo ibiyinto elungileyo. Akakho nzima, mhlawumbi, kodwa yinyani.” Ndavuma. “U-Ashley Ferrars akazange abe ngumyeni ofanelekileyo,” ndatsho ngononophelo. “Umtshololo, ndacinga,” watsho uBlunt. “Hayi,” ndatsho, “kodwa indoda enemali eninzi kunokuba ilunge kuye.” “Ooh! imali! Zonke iingxaki zehlabathi zingabekwa kwimali—okanye ukunqongophala kwayo.” “Yintoni eyayiyingxaki yakho ethile?” ndabuza. “Ndine eyaneleyo kwizinto endizifunayo. Ndiyenye yabantu abanethamsanqa.” “Ngokwenene.” “Andingathathi xesha ngoku, njengoko ibali libonisa. Ndifumene ilifa lonyaka ophelileyo, kwaye njengomdoda ongaqondiyo ndavuma ukuba ndiqinisekise ngezigidigidi ezithile.” Ndavelisa usizi, kwaye ndixelela ingxaki yam efanayo. Emva koko, i-gong yakhala, kwaye sonke saya kudla isidlo sasemini. UPoirot wanditsalela umva kancinci. “ ” Eh! bien? “Ulunge,” ndatsho. “Ndiyayazi.” “Akukho nto—eyohlulayo?” “Wayenelifa kunyaka ophelileyo,” ndatsho. “Kodwa kutheni kungenjalo? Kutheni engathanda ukuba njalo? Ndiza kuphakamisa ukuba le ndoda ingumntu ogqibeleleyo ophaya naphaya.” “Ngaphandle kwamathandabuzo, ngaphandle kwamathandabuzo,” watsho uPoirot ngokuthobeka. “Musa ukuzothusa.” Wajonga njengomntwana oyimfucu. Sonke saya kwigumbi lokudlela. Kwakungakholeleki ukuba ngaphantsi kweeyure ezimashumi amabini anesine kudlule xa ndakhona kwitafile efanayo. Emva koko, uNksk. Ackroyd wandihambela kwaye wahlala phantsi kunye nam kusoftu. “Andikwazi ukuncedisa kodwa ndiziva ndonqeni,” watsho ngothando, evelisa ilaphu elingakwaziyo ukuhlala kulo. “Ndonqenayo, ndithetha ngokungabikho kwenkuthazo kaRoger kum. Le mali yamashumi amabini amawaka emali ibikumele ukuba ifumene mna—kunokuba nguFlora. Umama angaya124 ukuthenjwa ukuba angakhusela izinto zomntwana wakhe. Ukungabikho kwenkuthazo, ndiyayibiza.” “Ulibala, Nksk. Ackroyd,” ndatsho, “uFlora wayengumnakazi kaAckroyd, umntu wegazi. Bekuya kuba njalo ukuba ubungudade wakhe endaweni yodadebo.” “Njengomhlolokazi kaCecil osisi, ndicinga ukuba iimvakalelo zam bekufanele ukuba zaqwalaselwa,” watsho inkosikazi, echukumisa imisipha yamehlo ngelaphu. “Kodwa uRoger wayesoloko enomdla omangalisayo—ukuba ungathetha ngendlela engaqhelekanga—malunga nemali. Kuye kwabakho isimo esinzima kakhulu kuFlora kum kunye nomnye. Akazange anike nomntwana ongumhlolokazi imali, nangona kunjalo. Wayehlawula izityholo zakhe, uyazi, kwaye noko nangobunzima obukhulu nokubuza ukuba wayefuna ntoni zonke ezo zinto—njengomntu—kodwa—ngoku ndilibele ukuba yayintoni endandiza kuthetha yona! Ooh, ewe, akukho mali enye esingayibiza ngokuba yeyethu, uyazi. UFlora wathukuthela—ewe, kufuneka nditsho ukuba wathukuthela—kakhulu. Nangona enamandla kumalume wakhe, ngokwenene. Kodwa nawuphi na umntu owayeza kuthukuthela. Ewe, kufuneka nditsho uRoger wayenemibono engaqhelekanga malunga nemali. Akazange afune nokuthenga izicuko ezintsha, nangona ndimxelela ukuba izikakhona zazingenameva—Kwaye ke,” waqhubeka uNksk. Ackroyd, ngokutsiba okungalindelekanga okubonisa kakuhle intetho yakhe, “ukushiya yonke loo mali—iphawundi elinye—cinga, iphawundi elinye!—kwiloo mfazi.” “Nguphi umfazi?” “Lo mfazi uRussell. Into engaziwayo ngaye, kwaye ndakusoloko nditsho. Kodwa uRoger akazange athole nto ngaye. Wathi ungumfazi onamandla amakhulu125 ngobuntu, kwaye wayemhlonipha kwaye emzukisa. Wayesoloko ethetha ngokucoceka kwakhe kunye nokuzimela kunye nexabiso lakhe. ngcinga kukho into engaqhelekanga ngaye. Ngokuqinisekileyo wayenza konke okusemandleni akhe ukutshata uRoger. Kodwa ndaya ndayeka ngokukhawuleza. Uhlala endingithiya. Ngokuqinisekileyo. mbonele. Ndiyi Ndiyi Ndaqala ukuzibuza ukuba kukho na ithuba lokunqanda intetho kaNksk. Ackroyd, kwaye ndibaleke. UMnu. Hammond wabonelela ngokuphazamiseka ngokuza kuthi ukundwendwela. Ndathatha ithuba lam ndaza ndaphakama. “Malunga nophando,” ndatsho. “Uza kulungisa phi? Apha, okanye kwiIbhulorho ezintathu?” UNksk. Ackroyd wandijonga ngomlomo ovulekileyo. “Uphando?” ubuze, imifanekiso yokudideka. “Kodwa ngokwenene akukho phando ezohlala kulo?” UMnu. Hammond wanxungunaxa umlomo wakhe kancinci waza wathi, “Ayinakuphetshulwa. Kwimeko ezithile,” ngamaxesha ambalwa athobekileyo. “Kodwa ngokwenene uGqirha Sheppard angalungisa—” “Zikhona iindawo zamandla oku lungisa,” ndatsho ngokudumisa. “Ukuba ukufa kwakhe kwakuyingozi—” “Ubulalisiwe, Nksk. Ackroyd,” ndatsho ngokungabi naye umnqweno. Wakhala kancinci. “Akukho ncwadi yengozi eya kuhlala ixesha elide.” UNksk. Ackroyd wandijonga ngokudabuka. Andizange ndibe nomonde koko ndacinga ukuba yiyo ukoyika kwakhe okungaphatheleleneyo nobuhle. “Ukuba kukho uphando, mna—mindingekhe ndifuneke ukuba ndiphendule imibuzo kwaye konke oko, andikunjalo?” ubuze. “Andazi ukuba yintoni eya kufuneka,” ndaphendula. “Ndiyabona ukuba uMnu. Raymond uza kuthatha umthwalo osuka kuwe. Uyayazi yonke imeko, kwaye angabeka ubungqina obuqhelekileyo bokuchonga.” Umalawuli wavuma ngentloko encinci. “Ndingathi andicingi ukuba kukho nto ekufanele ukuba yenziwe, Nksk. Ackroyd,” watsho. “Uza kukhululwa kubuhlungu obubuhlungu. Ngoku, malunga nombuzo wemali, unezinto ezaneleyo ngoku? Ndithetha ukuthi,” wongeza xa ejonge kuye ngobuqhetseha, “imali esele ikho. Imali, uyazi. Ukuba akunjalo, ndingalungisa ukukuvumela ukuba ufumane nantoni na oyifunayo.” “Oku kufanele kulunge,” watsho uRaymond, obemmele. “UMnu. Ackroyd wagqityaniswa itshathi enemali eyi-100 pounds izolo.” “I-100 pounds?” “Ewe. Kwiintlawulo kunye nezinye iindleko ezifanelekileyo namhlanje. Ngoku ingekho ntsika.” “Iphi le mali? Kwidesk yakhe?” “Hayi, wayesoloko egcina imali yakhe kwigumbi lakhe lokulala. Kwibhokisi yekholali yakudala, ukuchaneka.” “Ndicinga,” watsho umlawuli, “sifanele ukuba siqinisekise ukuba imali ikho phambi kokuba ndihambe.” “Ngokuqinisekileyo,” wavuma umfundisi. “Ndiya kukusa ngoku…. Ooh! Ndilibele. Ucango lutshixiwe.” Imibuzo evela kuParker yafumana ulwazi lokuba uMhloli uRaglan wayekwigumbi lomphathi wendlu ebuzwa imibuzo ethile eyongezelelweyo. Kwimizuzu embalwa kamva umhloli wajoyina iqela kwiholo, eyibeka isitshixo127 kunye naye. Wavula ucango kwaye sadlula kwilobbi kwaye sanyathela kwinqanaba elincinci. Ecaleni kwesinyathelo ucango lwegumbi likaAckroyd beluvulekile. Ngaphakathi egumbini kwakukumnyama, izikhangeli zazityalwe, kwaye ibhedi yayijongwe njengokuba yayinjalo izolo. Umhloli wakhupha izikhangeli, wavumela ilanga ukuba lingene, kwaye uGeoffrey Raymond waya kwisahlulo esiphezulu segumbi le-bureau yomthi obomvu. “Wayegcina imali yakhe ngolu hlobo, kwisahluko esingatshixiweyo. Cingani nje,” wajonga umhloli. Umfundisi wathukuthela kancinci. “UMnu. Ackroyd wayenkokhelo epheleleyo kubuqubomkomo bonke abalindi,” watsho ngokungxama. “Ooh, kanye njalo,” watsho umhloli ngokukhawuleza. URaymond wavula isahlulo, wathatha ibhokisi yekholali ejikelezayo ukusuka emva kwayo, kwaye wayivula, wathatha ipakethi yezindlu. “Nantsi imali,” watsho, ethatha ifuthe lemali ephezulu. “Ndiya kuyifumana inkulungwane ipheleleyo, ndiyazi, kuba uMnu. Ackroyd wayibeka kwibhokisi yekholali phambi kwam izolo ebusuku xa wayeqalisa ukubhiyozela isidlo sangokuhlwa, kwaye ngokwendalo ayizange yachukunyiswa ukusuka ngoko.” UMnu. Hammond wayithatha kuye waza wayibala. Wakhupha ngokukhawuleza. “I-100 pounds, utshilo. Kodwa kukho amathamsanqa amashumi amathandathu kuphela.” URaymond wajonga kuye. “Ayinakwenzeka,” yakhala, yatsibela phambili. Ethatha imali ezandleni zomnye, wayibala ngokuvakalayo. UMnu. Hammond wayenobuyile. Inani lafikelela kumashumi amathandathu emali. “Kodwa—andiyiqondi,” yakhala imfundisi, iyadideka. UPoirot wabuza umbuzo. “Ububonile uMnu. Ackroyd ebeka le mali bukhona izolo ebusuku xa wayeqalisa ukubhiyozela isidlo sangokuhlwa? Uqinisekile ukuba wayengakhange ayihlawule ngayo nayiphi na ingxelo?” “Ndiqinisekile ukuba wayengayihlawulanga. Wathi nokuthi, ‘Andifuni kuthatha i-100 pounds ndiye esidlweni. Yinto eninzi kakhulu.’” “Ngoko ke le nto ilula kakhulu,” watsho uPoirot. “Nokuba uhlawule loo mali engama-40 pounds ngexesha elithile izolo ebusuku, okanye ibiwe.” “Loo nto yindlela yokuthetha,” wavuma umhloli. Wajonga kuNksk. Ackroyd. “Ngubani kubalindi abaye kungena apha izolo ebusuku?” “Ndiyaqikelela umnqweno wobulala uya kujonga ibhedi.” “Ungubani yena? Uyazi ntoni ngaye?” “Akazange abe kule ndawo ixesha elide,” watsho uNksk. Ackroyd. “Kodwa ungumntwana ongumntu ongakwaziyo ukwenza inkohlakalo.” “Ndiyaqikelela ukuba sifanele ukucacisa le nto,” watsho umhloli. “Ukuba uMnu. Ackroyd uyihlawule ngokwakhe le mali, kungabakho isiphumo kwimfihlakalo yentlekele. Abanye abalindi bonke balungile, ngokokwazi kwakho?” “Ooh, ndiyayiqonda.” “Akukho nto ilahlekileyo ngaphambili?” “Hayi.” “Akukho namnye kubo ohambayo, okanye into enjalo?” “Iparlormaid iyazala.” “Nangona nini?” “Wandinika isaziso izolo, ndiyakholelwa.” “Kuwe?” “Ooh, hayi. andito yintoni enayo nabasebenzi. UNksk. Russell uyayilungisa imicimbi yendlu.” Mina Umhloli wahlala ecamngca imizuzu embalwa. Emva koko wanxungunaxa intloko waza wathi, “Ndiyaqikelela ukuba kufuneka ndibe negama noNksk. Russell, kwaye ndiya kubona intombazana uDale ngokunjalo.” UPoirot nam ndahamba naye kwigumbi lomphathi wendlu. UNksk. Russell wasamkela ngengqondo yakhe eqhelekileyo. U-Elsie Dale ubekhona kwii-Fernly iinyanga ezintlanu. Intombazana entle, ikhawuleza kwizinto zakhe, kwaye ihloniphekile. Izalathiso ezilungileyo. Intombazana yokugqibela kwihlabathi ukuba ithathe nantoni na engayiyo. Kuthekani ngeparlormaid? “Nayo, yayingumntu ophambili kakhulu. Ithule kwaye injengomfazi oyintokazi. Umsebenzi olungileyo.” “Ngoko ke kutheni ehambayo?” wabuza umhloli. UNksk. Russell wafaka imilebe yakhe. “Akukho nto ndiyenzileyo. Ndiyayiqonda ukuba uMnu. Ackroyd ufumene ingxaki ngayo izolo emva kwemini. Kwakuyinqwelo yakhe ukuba enze i-study, kwaye wajikeleza eminye yamaphepha kwidesk yakhe, ndiyakholelwa. Wayenomsindo omkhulu ngayo, kwaye wathi ukudala. Ngokwazi kwam, kodwa mhlawumbi uya kubona bona?” Umhloli wavuma. Ndandisele ndiyibonile intombazana xa yayisiya kuthi isidlo sasemini. Intombazana ephezulu, eneenwele ezininzi ezimdaka ezijijelwe ngasemva entanyeni yakhe, namehlo angwevu azinzileyo. Yafika xa yayibizwa130 ngumphathi wendlu, yaza yema ngqo namehlo angawezwe afanayo ibhajelwe kuthi. “Ungu-Ursula Bourne?” wabuza umhloli. “Ewe, sir.” “Ndiyayiqonda ukuba uyahamba?” “Ewe, sir.” “Ngoba unjalo?” “Ndajikeleza eminye yamaphepha kwisidanga sikaMnu. Ackroyd. Wayenomsindo omkhulu ngayo, kwaye ndathi kufuneka ndihambe. Wandixelela ukuba ndihambe ngokukhawuleza.” “Ububikho egumbini likaAckroyd ngobusuku bonke? Ukucoca okanye nantoni na?” “Hayi, sir. Lowo ngumsebenzi ka-Elsie. Andizange ndiye kule ndawo yendlu.” “Kufuneka ndikuxelele, ntombazana yam, ukuba imali enkulu ilahlekile egumbini likaMnu. Ackroyd.” Ekugqibeleni ndabona ekhutshiwe. Umva wombala wagalela ebusweni bakhe. “Andazi nto malunga nayo nayiphi na imali. Ukuba ucabanga ukuba ndiyithathile, kwaye yiyo loo nto uMnu. Ackroyd wandishiya, ungalunganga.” “Andikubambi ngokuphanga yona, ntombazana yam,” watsho umhloli. “Musa ukuvutha ngolu hlobo.” Intombazana yamjonga ngokubanda. “Unokukhangela izinto zam ukuba ufuna,” watsho ngothukuthelo. “Kodwa ngeke ufumane nto.” UPoirot ngokungazenzisiyo. “Kwakukusasa izolo ukuba uMnu. Ackroyd ukushiya—okanye wena uzishiyile, akunjalo?” ubuze. Intombazana yanxungunaxa intloko. “Ubude ixesha elingakanani ixesha elingakanani?” “Interview?” “Ewe, i-interview phakathi kwakho noMnu. Ackroyd kwisidanga?” “Mna—andazi.” “Amashumi amabini emizuzu? Isiqingatha seyure?” “Into enjalo.” “Akukho xesha elide?” “Akukho xesha elide kunezwi, ngokwenene.” “Enkosi, mademoiselle.” Ndambona ngokungazi nto. Wayelunguza izinto ezimbalwa kwitafile, ezilungisa ngeminqwelo yakhe echazayo. Amashiya akhe ayebengezela. “Kwanele,” watsho umhloli. U-Ursula Bourne waphela. Umhloli wajonga kuNksk. Russell. “Bekungakanani ixesha elingakanani elide apha? Ngaba unekopi yesalathiso onayo?” Ngokungaphenduli umbuzo wokuqala, uNksk. Russell wah
