Alan (the Lone Librarian rides again) Teder’s Reviews > Third Girl > Status Update

“I was not clever about her—No—I, Hercule Poirot, was not clever at all.” “Hear, hear,” said Dr. Stillingfleet. “First time I’ve ever heard you say that, Poirot! Wonders will never cease!”

“Pray, pray be very careful,” he implored her.
“What nonsense! What could happen to me?”
“Where there is murder, anything can happen. I tell that to you. I, Poirot.”

“Ariadne Oliver was here last weekend. She came over with the Lorrimers. Her books are most amusing, aren’t they? But perhaps you don’t find detective stories amusing. You are a detective yourself, aren’t you—a real one?”
“I am all that there is of the most real,” said Hercule Poirot.

Mrs. Oliver thought that “naturally” was not the word at all. What was natural was that Poirot himself was sure that everyone had always heard of him. Actually large numbers of people would only look at you blankly if the name of Hercule Poirot was mentioned, especially the younger generation.