“And yet,” said Poirot, “suppose an accident-“”Ah, no, my friend-“”From your point of view it would be regrettable, I agree. But nevertheless let us just for one moment suppose it. Then, perhaps, all these here are linked together – by death.”

“La vie est vaine,Un peu d’amour,Un peu de haine,Et puis—Bonjour!La vie est brève:Un peu d’espoir,Un peu de rèveEt puis—Bon soir! Ah, brief is Life,Love’s short sweet way,With dreamings rife,And then—Good-day!And Life is vain—Hope’s vague delight,Grief’s transient pain,And then—Good-night.”

“Meanwhile we have learnt something, and to know is to be prepared.”

“Poetry is not the most important thing in life… I’d much rather lie in a hot bath reading Agatha Christie and sucking sweets.”