The Complete Short Stories with Hercule Poirot - Vol 1

by Agatha Christie

“Les voilà! The old Italian Comedy. Three pairs! Harlequin and Columbine, Pierrot and Pierrette—very dainty in white and green—and Punchinello and Pulcinella in mauve and yellow. Very elaborate, the costume of Punchinello—ruffles and frills, a hump, a high hat. Yes, as I thought, very elaborate.”

“What? You don’t mean it! You know who killed Lord Cronshaw?” “Parfaitement.”

Always I have a desire to keep the threads in my own hands up to the last minute.

“Poirot,” I cried, “one day I shall murder you! Your habit of finding everything perfectly simple is aggravating to the last degree!” “But when I explain, mon ami, is it not always perfectly simple?” “Yes; that is the annoying part of it! I feel then that I could have done it myself.” “And so you could, Hastings, so you could. If you would but take the trouble of arranging your ideas! Without method—”

“But not quite so clever as Hercule Poirot!”

Family strength is a marvellous thing. They can all act, that family.

I think I shall call this little affair the Adventure of the King of Clubs. What do you think, my friend?”

Lady Yardly, aptly ministered to by Poirot, who is as good as a woman in these matters,

you tell Lord Yardly to place himself in your hands and all will be well—and then the diamond vanishes from under your very nose!” “True,” said Poirot, rather crestfallen. “It was not one of my most striking triumphs.” This way of describing events almost caused me to smile, but I stuck to my guns.

I feel it is only just that England should know the debt it owes to my quaint little friend, whose marvellous brain so ably averted a great catastrophe.

“Always you have had a penchant for auburn hair!”

“Quelle belle vie!” he murmured.