Hercule Poirot quotes from Agatha Christie's Poirot

Hercule Poirot

It is most obscure, Chief Inspector, which gives me the great hopes of solving it.

James Japp

I'm afraid I can't see it myself.

Hercule Poirot

Ah, but I do not see, mon ami. I shut my eyes and I think. One must always seek the truth from within.

Arthur Hastings

I'd still like to know what the color of Lowen's trousers has got to do with anything.

Hercule Poirot

Surely that is obvious, Hastings. Monsieur Lowen says that he did not pass Monsieur Davenheim in the lane, oui? Now, is he lying, Hastings, or did he in fact kill Monsieur Davenheim? A messy scuffle in the country road, a disposal of a body in a muddy field, and still he manages to turn up at the house minutes later so immaculately dressed.

Arthur Hastings

Ah. Seemed rather trivial.

Hercule Poirot

No, Hastings. Nothing is trivial in the matter of murder. I commend also to your attention the fact that before he leaves a room, Monsieur Davenheim puts onto the gramophone a record of the "1812 Overture."

Arthur Hastings

Well, that was highly significant, too, was it?

Hercule Poirot

Well, we may as yet be on the wrong track, but at least it is suggestive.

Arthur Hastings

Track! That was it! Gerald Lowen.

Hercule Poirot

Comment?

Arthur Hastings

Gerald Lowen. Races a couple of Bugattis, just beginning to make a name for himself on the circuit. I bet it's the same chap.

Hercule Poirot

Ah, the racing of the cars, hein? Round and around in the circles. Never will I understand the passion for such a pointless pastime.

Arthur Hastings

Well, you've got to experience it, Poirot. The sheer exhilaration of flying around on the seat of your pants.

Hercule Poirot

Yes, well, Hastings, perhaps you should try cleaning them first.

Morning, sir. Got a parrot for Mr. Poor-rot.

Hercule Poirot

Ah, no, no, no, no. "Poirot." It is pronounced "Poirot."

I beg your pardon, Governor. I've got a Poirot for Mr. Poor-rot.

Arthur Hastings

It's a wonder Japp didn't lock me up for breaking and entering.

Hercule Poirot

But, Hastings, you performed magnificently.

Arthur Hastings

I don't see what it proves, except that you need a strong hand to get that thing open. Lowen isn't exactly a weakling.

Hercule Poirot

Ah, our old friend Monsieur Lowen, hein? He has suffered so badly at the hands of Monsieur Davenheim that he vows to exact his revenge on the demon banker. So, first, he kills his adversary, then he turns up at the house in order to ransack the safe and make off with the family jewels, hein?

Arthur Hastings

It's the only explanation that fits.

Hercule Poirot

Like the round hole into the square peg.

Arthur Hastings

You know, Poirot, I sometimes wonder if you don't set me these little tasks just to find out how much embarrassment I can take in any one day.

Hercule Poirot

The facts, Hastings. This is of critical importance.

Arthur Hastings

Charlotte and Mathew Davenheim have occupied separate bedrooms since the spring.

Hercule Poirot

Ah. And it is now the middle of October. Bon. And the bathroom cabinet?

Arthur Hastings

You sure want to hear all this?

Hercule Poirot

Hastings, do you think I play the games?

Arthur Hastings

Two toothbrushes, one hairbrush, one pot of skin cream, one bottle of liver pills, one tube of toothpaste, one shaving brush, one packet of razor blades, one bottle of sleeping pills, one nasal spray, one bottle of eye drops...

Hercule Poirot

Thank you, Hastings. I have heard enough.

Arthur Hastings

There's another two pages.

Hercule Poirot

The evidence, it is complete. Now, Hastings, Miss Lemon, I trust you have no monies deposited in the bank of Davenheim and Selmon?

None.

Arthur Hastings

No? Nor me. Why?

Hercule Poirot

Because I should advise you to withdraw it all, mon ami, before it is too late.

You think there's trouble looming?

Hercule Poirot

I expect a big crash within the next few days, Miss Lemon. Perhaps sooner, hein? So, if you please, a note to the Chief Inspector Japp. Advise you to withdraw any monies deposited with the firm in question. Ah, still he will not comprehend.

Arthur Hastings

I'm not sure I comprehend.

Hercule Poirot

Hastings, as I told you at the start, once all the facts were placed before me, the solution, it becomes inevitable.

Poirot

[About the Robinsons] Did they strike you as being the gullible young couple, Hastings?

Hastings

No, they didn't.

Poirot

So we assume they possess a special quality the others were lacking, no?

Hastings

They're just an ordinary couple.

Poirot

Voila! There lies the intrigue.

Seems I may owe you an apology, M. Poirot.

Hercule Poirot

No, no, Sir Bernard. You were cleverly misled.

How did you get onto it?

Hercule Poirot

Whenever the occasion arises, Sir Bernard, to look into someone's address book, always first look under the letter "X" because that is where the secrets are kept. In the address book of Monsieur Egan which I found under his pillow, under the letter "X," there was only one number. No name. Just "X." It was a Mayfair number, which I thought strange. But when I pretended to use the telephone of Commander Daniels, I noticed that his number was the same as that in the address book. An interesting connection, n'est-ce pas?

Hercule Poirot

I have worked hard, Hastings, to prepare for you the delicious dinner. I have searched the shops for the exotic herbs. I have argued with the butcher, who is a fool. I have beaten your scallops with a little mallet until my arm, it aches. And you sit there shoveling food in your mouth and writing in your little book.

Arthur Hastings

Oh, I'm sorry. You're always rotting at me about order and method, so I've started to keep this notebook. I've got two columns. The first is to write down all the things I don't understand. Then the second is to write down the explanation.

Hercule Poirot

What is it that you write now?

Arthur Hastings

Well, the first thing is, if Lady Yardly's got the real diamond now and the other one was imitation, who's got the other eye of the Chinese god?

Hercule Poirot

Hastings, there was no Chinese god. There was no connection with China whatsoever. Now, close your little book and eat your dinner.

Arthur Hastings

I never knew you were so keen on opera, Poirot.

Hercule Poirot

Generally, mon ami, I am not, but the Rigoletto. The father who is jealous. His daughter, she is dishonored, so he plans the murder parfait, but he has failed to understand the psychology. The result, catastrophe. That is what interests me.

Arthur Hastings

Well, it does have a couple of good tunes, I suppose.

There's not the least clue who the victim may be.

Hercule Poirot

It is possible that the surname of the intended victim will begin with the letter B.

That would be something.

Hercule Poirot

I suggest it as a possibility, no more. It came to my mind when I read the signature "A.B.C." on the first letter and again when I heard the name of the unfortunate woman in Andover.

Arthur Hastings

You mean, first a Mrs. Ascher in Andover, then someone beginning with B in Bexhill?

Hercule Poirot

Oui.

James Japp

Well, that's possible, I suppose. I mean, we are dealing with a madman.

Arthur Hastings

But so far he hasn't given us any clue as to his motive.

James Japp

Does a madman have any motive?

Perhaps he's gonna murder someone in every town of the alphabet all the way from Andover to, uh...

Hercule Poirot

Zennor. [off Superintendent Carter's baffled look] I've thought a lot about it, you see.

This is all very ingenious, but I'm afraid Monsieur Poirot doesn't really mean it. He keeps deliberately changing his story. First, poor Jane killed Giselle. And now her daughter did.

Hercule Poirot

No, no, no, Monsieur Gale, the daughter did not kill the mother. The maid of Lady Horbury, she left the first-class cabin at the start of the flight, and we know that Madame Giselle did not die until shortly before we landed.

Then how did she die?

Hercule Poirot

You will recall, Monsieur Gale, that I asked you to disguise yourself as a reporter to go to see Lady Horbury.

What, he was...

Hercule Poirot

I apologize for the deceit, madame. But you know, at first, the disguise of Monsieur Gale, it was hopelessly unconvincing, hein? But why? Why was the disguise of Monsieur Gale so unconvincing? There are two reasons for this. First, to make me believe that it would be impossible for him to impersonate the mysterious American. And secondly, and most important of all, to ensure that I would never learn the truth about how this murder was committed.

I wish I could make you understand, Monsieur Poirot, about my meeting with Rebecca and my marriage. Gerda understood, didn't you, old girl? We could have married again after Rebecca's death, but, do you know, we'd come to rather enjoy all the secrecy. She's an actress through and through. She would have found it very dull being just one character. Well, I've killed three people, so presumably I ought to hang. But haven't I done something for England? I have held it firm. I have kept it solvent. I have kept it free from dictators. I am necessary to the continuing peace and well-being of this nation.

James Japp

Is he saying what I think he's saying?

What about me? He was gonna let me hang.

Hercule Poirot

Précisément. Monsieur Blunt, with his usual efficiency, had provided for himself a second line of defense. If things went wrong, you, Monsieur Carter, you were to be the scapegoat. You see, by now, Monsieur Blunt knows of Monsieur Morley's opinion regarding you, and so he arranges for you to be engaged in a most mysterious fashion as a gardener. And how easy for Helen Montressor to fire a shot vaguely in your direction, drop the pistol at your feet, where you are bound to pick it up? You are caught red-handed, and of course nobody is going to believe your story, your ridiculous story about being employed by the secret service. No. As far as Monsieur Blunt is concerned, you can end your short life on the gallows.

I don't waste pity on people like him.

Hercule Poirot

Eh bien, Monsieur Blunt. That is where you and I, we do not see alike, for to me, the lives of those three people are just as important as your own life. [starts to leave but stops and faces Blunt] Monsieur Blunt, you talk of the continued peace of this nation, hein? Oh, yes, that is very good. But Poirot is not concerned with nations. Poirot is concerned with private individuals, who have the right not to have taken from them their lives.

Hercule Poirot

Miss Lemon, if you please, would you come through for a moment with your notepad and pencil? I want that you send a telegram to the Assistant Commissioner Bergman in the police department of New York. "Please supply all available biographical material on Monsieur Rupert Bleibner, nephew to the wealthy Monsieur Felix Bleibner. Best wishes, Hercule Poirot."

I could say "biog."

Hercule Poirot

Comment?

Instead of "biographical," I could say "biog."

Hercule Poirot

Is that a word, Miss Lemon?

It sounds efficient. I heard someone say it in a picture. "Give me the biog on Dutch Schultz, Miss Longfellow."

Hercule Poirot

"Biographical material" will do very nicely, thank you, Miss Lemon.

You remember Paul Deroulard?

Hercule Poirot

I remember that it was not I who made the mistakes in that case. It was everyone else.

The old modesty lives on. Paul Deroulard died of natural causes, Hercule. The verdict of the court is there for all time.

Hercule Poirot

And it is wrong.

James Japp

What are these bloomin' things, Poirot?

Hercule Poirot

Ah. Now these are the miniature gardens of Madame Alfred Lee.

James Japp

What's the point of havin' a miniature garden? I mean, you can't do anything with it, can you? You can't take a deck chair out and sit it in.