Dumb Witness Quotes

“I have often had occasion to notice how, where a direct question would fail to elicit a response, a false assumption brings instant information in the form of a contradiction.”
― Agatha Christie, Dumb Witness

“The dog hunts rabbits. Hercule Poirot hunts murderers.”
― Agatha Christie, Dumb Witness

“I don't know why dogs always go for postmen, I'm sure," continued our guide.
"It's a matter of reasoning," said Poirot. "The dog, he argues from reason. He is intelligent; he makes his deductions according to his point of view. There are people who may enter a house and there are people who may not - that a dog soon learns. Eh bien, who is the person who most persistently tries to gain admission, rattling on the door twice or three times a day - and who is never by any chance admitted? The postman. Clearly, then, an undesirable guest from the point of view of the master of the house. He is always sent about his business, but he persistently returns and tries again. Then a dog's duty is clear, to aid in driving this undesirable man away, and to bite him if possible. A most reasonable proceeding.”
― Agatha Christie, Dumb Witness

“There hung about her the restrained energy of a whiplash.”
― Agatha Christie, Dumb Witness

“A dog is a great promoter of friendly intercourse.”
― Agatha Christie, Dumb Witness

“It's a matter of reasoning," said Poirot. "The dog, he argues from reason. He is intelligent, he makes his deductions according to his point of view. There are people who may enter a house and there people who may not - that a dog soon learns. Eh bien, who is the person who most persistently tries to gain admission, rattling on the door twice or three times a day - and who is never by any chance admitted? The postman. Clearly, then, an undesirable guest from the point of view of the master of the house. He is always sent about his business, but he persistently returns and tries again. Then the dog's duty is clear, to aid in driving this undesirable man away, and to bite him if possible. A most reasonable proceeding.”
― Agatha Christie, Dumb Witness

“Poirot and I behaved in the customary fashion of people being shown over houses. We stood stock still, looking a little ill at ease, murmuring remarks such as: "Very nice." "A very pleasant room." "The morning-room, you say?”
― Agatha Christie, Dumb Witness

“Why did Juliet fall for Romeo? Well for one thing, with all due deference for Shakespeare, he happened to be the first man she had seen.”
― Agatha Christie, Dumb Witness

“We passed a very pleasant evening, though I made the slight mistake of taking Poirot to a crook play. There is one piece of advice I offer to all my readers. Never take a soldier to a military play, a sailor to a naval play, a Scotsman to a Scottish play, a detective to a thriller -- and an actor to any play whatsoever! The shower of destructive criticism in each case is somewhat devastating.”
― Agatha Christie, Dumb Witness

“No troubles has come my way--touching wood. He rapped the counter sharply with his knuckles.”
― Agatha Christie, Dumb Witness

“It’s a matter of reasoning,’ said Poirot. ‘The dog, he argues from reason. He is intelligent, he makes his deductions according to his point of view. There are people who may enter a house and there are people who may not—that a dog soon learns. Eh bien, who is the person who most persistently tries to gain admission, rattling on the door twice or three times a day—and who is never by any chance admitted? The postman. Clearly, then, an undesirable guest from the point of view of the master of the house. He is always sent about his business, but he persistently returns and tries again. Then a dog’s duty is clear, to aid in driving this undesirable man away, and to bite him if possible. A most reasonable proceeding.”
― Agatha Christie, Dumb Witness

“How lightly and easily you put the matter aside! Let me tell you that no matter is finished with until Hercule Poirot ceases to concern himself with it!”
― Agatha Christie, Dumb Witness

“To separate the main issue from the side issues is the first task of the orderly mind.”
― Agatha Christie, Dumb Witness

“Oh, it's you, sir," she exclaimed.
She drew the door right back. A look of highly pleasurable excitement spread over her face.
"Come in, sir, if you please, sir."
We entered the hall. From beneath the door on the left, loud snuffling sounds proceeded, interspersed with growls. Bob was endeavoring to "place" us correctly.
"You can let him out", I suggested.
"I will, sir. He's quite all right, really, but he makes such a noise and rushes at people so it frightens them. He's a splendid watchdog though."
She opened the morning room door, and Bob shot through like a suddenly projected cannonball.
"Who is it? Where are they? Oh, there you are. Dear me, don't I seem to remember -" sniff- sniff- sniff- prolonged snort. "Of course! We have met!"
"Hullo, old man," I said. "How goes it?"
Bob wagged his tail perfunctorily.
"Nicely, thank you. Let me just see -" he resumed his researches. "Been talking to a spaniel lately, I smell. Foolish dogs, I think. What's this? A cat? That is interesting. Wish we had her here. We'd have rare sport. H'm - not a bad bull terrier."
Having correctly diagnosed a visit I had paid recently to some doggy friends, he transferred his attention to Poirot, inhaled a noseful of benzine and walked away reproachfully.
"Bob", I called.
He threw me a look over his shoulder.
"It's all right. I know what I am doing. I'll be back in a jiffy.”
― Agatha Christie, Dumb Witness

“When we rang the bell, Bob immediately answered the challenge. Dashing across the hall, barking furiously, he flung himself against the front door.
"I'll have your liver and your lights!" he snarled. "I'll tear you limb from limb! I'll teach you to try and get into this house! Just wait until I get my teeth into you."
A soothing murmur added itself to the clamour.
"Now then, boy. Now then, there's a good doggie. Come in here."
Bob, dragged by the collar, was immured in the morning room much against his will.
"Always spoiling a fellow's sport," he grumbled. "First chance I've had of giving anyone a really good fright for ever so long. Just aching to get my teeth into a trouser leg. You be careful of yourself without me to protect you.”
― Agatha Christie, Dumb Witness

“Pleased to meet you, I'm sure," he observed as he sniffed round our ankles. "Excuse the noise, won't you, but I have my job to do. Got to be careful who we let in, you know. But it's a dull life and I'm really quite pleased to see a visitor. Dogs of your own, I fancy?”
― Agatha Christie, Dumb Witness

“She transferred her gaze to me.
"You are his secretary, I suppose?"
"Er—yes," I said doubtfully.
"Can you write decent English?"
"I hope so."
"H'm—where did you go to school?"
"Eton."
"Then you can't.”
― Agatha Christie, Dumb Witness

“To dear Peter, most faithful of friends and dearest of companions, a dog in a thousand”
― Agatha Christie, Dumb Witness

“Quite possibly, but I prefer the life of the innocent to the conviction of the guilty.”
― Agatha Christie, Dumb Witness

“Do you know what you remind me of, Poirot?” I said. “No, mon ami.” “Of a juggler juggling with a lot of different coloured balls! They are all in the air at once.” “The different coloured balls are the different lies I tell—eh?” “That’s about the size of it.” “And some day, you think, there will come the grand crash?” “You can’t keep it up forever,” I pointed out. “That is true. There will come the grand moment when I catch the balls one by one, make my bow, and walk off the stage.”
― Agatha Christie, Dumb Witness

“We had some excellent mutton, large slabs of watery cabbage and some dispirited potatoes. Some rather tasteless stewed fruit and custard followed. After gorgonzola and biscuits the waiter brought us two cups of a doubtful fluid called coffee.”
― Agatha Christie, Dumb Witness

“McGinty’s Dead After the Funeral Hickory Dickory Dock Dead Man’s Folly Cat Among the Pigeons The Clocks Third Girl Hallowe’en Party Elephants Can Remember Curtain:”
― Agatha Christie, Dumb Witness

“Taste is one thing,’ said Poirot coldly. ‘Brains are another.”
― Agatha Christie, Dumb Witness

“solecism.”
― Agatha Christie, Dumb Witness

“It’s a matter of reasoning,” said Poirot. “The dog, he argues from reason. He is intelligent, he makes his deductions according to his point of view. There are people who may enter a house and there are people who may not—that a dog soon learns. Eh bien, who is the person who most persistently tries to gain admission, rattling on the door twice or three times a day—and who is never by any chance admitted? The postman. Clearly, then, an undesirable guest from the point of view of the master of the house. He is always sent about his business, but he persistently returns and tries again. Then a dog’s duty is clear, to aid in driving this undesirable man away, and to bite him if possible. A most reasonable proceeding.”
― Agatha Christie, Dumb Witness

“That', said Poirot, 'is a very clever old woman.'
Even although she did not admire your mostaches ?'

'Taste is one thing', said Poirot coldly.'Brains are another.”
― Agatha Christie, Dumb Witness

“Yes. If there is a murderer in the woodpile—and I think there is, Hastings. Yes, I think there is….”
― Agatha Christie, Dumb Witness

“After all, this is a free country—” “English people seem to labour under that misapprehension,” murmured Poirot. “And I should hope anyone can leave their money exactly as they choose! I think Miss Arundell acted very wisely. Obviously she mistrusted her own relatives and I daresay she had her reasons.”
― Agatha Christie, Dumb Witness

“There were some original shares of Mortauld. Now, of course, Thomas and Arabella took their shares with them when they married. The other three sisters lived here, and they didn’t spend a tenth part of their joint income, it all went back and was reinvested. When Matilda died, she left her money to be divided between Emily and Agnes, and when Agnes died she left hers to Emily. And Emily still went on spending very little. Result, she died a rich woman—and the Lawson woman gets it all!”
― Agatha Christie, Dumb Witness

“But though Miss Arundell’s death surprised no one, something else did. The provisions of her will gave rise to varying emotions, astonishment, pleasurable excitement, deep condemnation, fury, despair, anger and general gossip.”
― Agatha Christie, Dumb Witness