AKICOLJ

[wellinghall]

Poirot (for instance) usually seems to have a cord round his neck and chest. Does anyone know what this would be for?

Comments

[malaheed.livejournal.com]

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....

[wellinghall.livejournal.com]

You have hit upon it, sir!

[white_hart]

Does it have his pince-nez attached to it?

[wellinghall.livejournal.com]

It could do, although it seems to go rather far down for that.

[gurthaew.livejournal.com]

I googled Poirot images and saw no cords...

[wellinghall.livejournal.com]

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

[gurthaew.livejournal.com]

Spectacle cord?

[wellinghall.livejournal.com]

It could be, but it seems to go rather far down.

[pellegrina.livejournal.com]

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.

[wellinghall.livejournal.com]

Ah, that could be it - thanks!

[inamac.livejournal.com]

Further investigation confirms a spectacle cord:

[wellinghall.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[hilarityallen.livejournal.com]

Either for pince-nez or his watch chain.

[wellinghall.livejournal.com]

He has a watch chain that seems to go through the same waistcoat button-hole that the cord goes to, so there could be a connection.

[segh.livejournal.com]

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.

[wellinghall.livejournal.com]

Possibly, but it's not just in Poirot that I've seen it.

[inamac.livejournal.com]

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.

[wellinghall.livejournal.com]

Possibly, although I have seen a similar cord in other period dramas.

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.

[inamac.livejournal.com]

Yes, I was thinking of Wimsey.

[didiusjulianus.livejournal.com]

I keep a miniature pot of Marmite attached to mine ;)

[wellinghall.livejournal.com]

That sounds like an excellent idea! :-)

[didiusjulianus.livejournal.com]

Yay another Marmite lover...I remember you mentioning that before, come to think of it.