It goes back to his bad experience flying in the plane when the man is killed with the poison dart. Since then he has always worn a parachute and what you are seeing is the rip cord....
Like this one. http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=poirot+suchet&hl=en&safe=off&client=firefox-a&hs=ubW&sa=X&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&biw=1252&bih=567&tbm=isch&prmd=imvns&tbnid=tvSBDo5IRmL-0M:&imgrefurl=http://picslaw.co.cc/david-suchet-poirot.html&docid=NeDGdQQH9_QBZM&imgurl=http://picslaw.co.cc/data/2011-05-12/david-suchet-poirot.jpg&w=240&h=320&ei=Dv8_T7XfN4HK0QXf-uCQDw&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=420&sig=110697392484598259467&page=1&tbnh=111&tbnw=83&start=0&ndsp=24&ved=0CHwQrQMwDg&tx=44&ty=78
To me it looks like a spectacle cord that is long enough to stay a bit loose when the spectacles are tucked in an inside pocket that may swing forward a bit.
A lanyard, on the end of which (in a pocket) is a whistle, with which he can if necessary summon the police. When I was in the Sea Rangers my bosun's call was similarly attached.
I'd assumed that it was for a magnifying glass/monocle - essential equipment for a detective (and a gentleman of a Scientific Disposition), and requiring a rather longer tether than spectacles or a normal monocle.
Am trying to remember if I've ever seen him use such an item.
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Date: 2012-02-18 07:42 pm (UTC)http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=poirot+suchet&hl=en&safe=off&client=firefox-a&hs=ubW&sa=X&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&biw=1252&bih=567&tbm=isch&prmd=imvns&tbnid=tvSBDo5IRmL-0M:&imgrefurl=http://picslaw.co.cc/david-suchet-poirot.html&docid=NeDGdQQH9_QBZM&imgurl=http://picslaw.co.cc/data/2011-05-12/david-suchet-poirot.jpg&w=240&h=320&ei=Dv8_T7XfN4HK0QXf-uCQDw&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=420&sig=110697392484598259467&page=1&tbnh=111&tbnw=83&start=0&ndsp=24&ved=0CHwQrQMwDg&tx=44&ty=78
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Date: 2012-02-18 09:46 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-02-19 09:11 am (UTC)Am trying to remember if I've ever seen him use such an item.
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Date: 2012-02-19 09:14 am (UTC)I have seen him use the telescope in the handle of his walking stick; and Peter Wimsey had a magnifying glass built into his monocle.
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Date: 2012-02-24 03:35 pm (UTC)