Appearances Quotes

How we cite our quotes:

Quote #1

It was not till they were eating a delicate cream cheese that M. Bouc allowed his attention to wander to matters other than nourishment. He was at the stage of a meal when one becomes philosophic.

"Ah!" he sighed. "If I had but the pen of a Balzac! I would depict this scene." (1.3.3-4)

M. Bouc thinks the scene is a perfect one to be written about. (Agatha Christie obviously agrees.) He expresses his wish that he had the skills famous French writer Honoré de Balzac.

Quote #2

What an egg-shaped head he had. In spite of her preoccupations Mary Debenham smiled. A ridiculous-looking little man. The sort of little man one could never take seriously. (1.1.28)

Mary Debenham immediately underestimates Poirot because of his size and, quite possibly, his silly mustache.

Quote #3

"Rather an odd little comedy that I watch here," said Poirot to himself thoughtfully. (1.1.81)

Poirot immediately senses something theatrical in the conversation between Colonel Arbuthnot and Mary Debenham.