Chapter 10
　　‘I wonder,’ said Hercule Poirot. He folded up the list, went to the door and ordered Mahmoud to bebrought to him. The stout dragoman was voluble. Words dripped from him in a rising flood.
　　‘Always, always, I am blamed. When anything happens, say always, my fault. Always my fault.
　　When Lady Ellen Hunt sprain¹ her ankle coming down from Place of Sacrifice it my fault, though shewould go high-heeled shoes and she sixty at least—perhaps seventy. My life all one misery²! Ah!
　　what with miseries³ and iniquities⁴, Jews do to us—’
　　At last Poirot succeeded in stemming the flood and in getting in his question.
　　‘Half-past five o’clock, you say? No, I not think any of servants were about then. You see, lunchis late—two o’clock. And then to clear it away. After the lunch all afternoon sleep. Yes, Americans,they not take tea. We all settle sleep by half-past three. At five I who am soul of efficiency—always—always I watch for the comfort of ladies and gentlemen I serving, I come out knowing that time allEnglish ladies want tea. But no one there. They all gone walking. For me, that is very well—betterthan usual. I can go back sleep. At quarter to six trouble begin—large English lady—very grand lady—come back and want tea although boys are now laying dinner. She makes quite fuss—says watermust be boiling—I am to see myself. Ah, my good gentlemen! What a life—what a life! I do all I can—always I blamed—I—’
　　Poirot asked about the recriminations.
　　‘There is another small matter. The dead lady was angry with one of the boys. Do you knowwhich one it was and what it was about?’
　　Mahmoud’s hands rose to heaven.
　　‘Should I know? But naturally not. Old lady did not complain to me.’
　　‘Could you find out?’
　　‘No, my good gentlemen, that would be impossible. None of the boys admit it for a moment.
　　Old lady angry, you say? Then naturally boys would not tell. Abdul say it Mohammed, andMohammed say it Aziz and Aziz say it Aissa, and so on. They are all very stupid Bedouin —understand nothing.’
　　He took a breath and continued: ‘Now I, I have advantage of Mission education. I recite to youKeats—Shelley—“Iadadoveandasweedovedied—”’

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