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Simon Doyle
Colonel Race is an acquaintance of Hercule Poirot going back to before the events of Death on the Nile. In Death on the Nile, he comes aboard the Karnak Nile steamer because he has received word that there’s a political agitator on board who is responsible for the murders of several people. Though he is not as brilliant at deduction as Poirot, he is a careful and methodical sidekick, helping Poirot to organize searches and interrogations on the steamer. Race’s role in the story is to be a foil to Poirot—he’s an intelligent character in his own right, but he mostly just serves to highlight how much more brilliant Poirot is by comparison.
Colonel Race Quotes in Death on the Nile
The Death on the Nile quotes below are all either spoken by Colonel Race or refer to Colonel Race. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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Chapter Four Quotes
“No, Madame.” His tone was firm. “I will not accept a commission from you. I will do what I can in the interests of humanity.”
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Chapter Thirteen Quotes
Hercule Poirot was just wiping the lather from his freshly shaved face when there was a quick tap on the door, and hard on top of it Colonel Race entered unceremoniously. He closed the door behind him.
He said: “Your instinct was quite correct. It’s happened.”
Poirot straightened up and asked sharply: “What has happened?”
“Linnet Doyle’s dead—shot through the head last night.”
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Chapter Eighteen Quotes
Poirot picked up the handkerchief and examined it.
“A man’s handkerchief-but not a gentleman’s handkerchief. Ce cher Woolworth, I imagine. Threepence at most.”
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Chapter Twenty-Two Quotes
Finally he turned his attention to the washstand. There were various creams, powders, face lotions. But the only thing that seemed to interest Poirot were two little bottles labelled Nailex. He picked them up at last and brought them to the dressing table. One, which bore the inscription Nailex Rose, was empty but for a drop or two of dark red fluid at the bottom. The other, the same size, but labelled Nailex Cardinal, was nearly full. Poirot uncorked first the empty, then the full one, and sniffed them both delicately.
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Chapter Twenty-Three Quotes
The body of the dead woman, who in life had been Louise Bourget, lay on the floor of her cabin. The two men bent over it.
Race straightened himself first.
“Been dead close on an hour, I should say. We’ll get Bessner on to it. Stabbed to the heart. Death pretty well instantaneous, I should imagine. She doesn’t look pretty, does she?”
“No.”
Poirot shook his head with a slight shudder.
The dark feline face was convulsed, as though with surprise and fury, the lips drawn back from the teeth.
Poirot bent again gently and picked up the right hand. Something just showed within the fingers. He detached it and held it out to Race, a little sliver of flimsy paper coloured a pale mauvish pink.
“You see what it is?”
“Money,” said Race.
“The corner of a thousand-franc note, I fancy.”
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Chapter Twenty-Four Quotes
Mrs. Otterbourne continued: “The arrangement was that I should go round to the stern on the deck below this, and there I should find the man waiting for me. As I went along the deck a cabin door opened and somebody looked out. It was this girl-Louise Bourget, or whatever her name is. She seemed to be expecting someone. When she saw it was me, she looked disappointed and went abruptly inside again. I didn’t think anything of it, of course. I went along just as I had said I would and got the-the stuff from the man. I paid him and-er-just had a word with him. Then I started back. Just as I came around the corner I saw someone knock on the maid’s door and go into the cabin.”
Race said, “And that person was—?"
Bang!
The noise of the explosion filled the cabin. There was an acrid sour smell of smoke. Mrs. Otterbourne turned slowly sideways, as though in supreme inquiry, then her body slumped forward and she fell to the ground with a crash. From just behind her ear the blood flowed from a round neat hole.
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Chapter Twenty-Six Quotes
“That was an accident. I swear it was an accident!” The man leant forward, his face working, his eyes terrified. “I stumbled and fell against it. I swear it was an accident. . . .”
The two men said nothing.
Pennington suddenly pulled himself together. He was still a wreck of a man, but his fighting spirit had returned in a certain measure. He moved towards the door.
“You can’t pin that on me, gentlemen. It was an accident. And it wasn’t I who shot her. D’you hear? You can’t pin that on me either—and you never will.”
He went out.
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Chapter Twenty-Seven Quotes
“Well, sir, where do we go from here? I admit taking the pearls from Linnet’s cabin and you’ll find them just where you say they are. I’m guilty all right. But as far as Miss Southwood is concerned, I’m not admitting anything. You’ve no evidence whatever against her. How I got hold of the fake necklace is my own business.”
Poirot murmured: “A very correct attitude.”
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Colonel Race Character Timeline in Death on the Nile
The timeline below shows where the character Colonel Race appears in Death on the Nile. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter Eleven
After Jacqueline leaves, Poirot is surprised to feel a hand on his shoulder from Colonel Race, an old acquaintance that he met at a strange (and deadly) dinner party in London...
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Poirot admits to Race that he’s uneasy about the atmosphere on the boat. He recounts some recent events for...
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Chapter Twelve
...Bessner. Fanthorp is seated nearby, while Simon and Linnet are playing bridge with Pennington and Race, and Poirot is yawning in a corner. Miss Van Schuyler tells Poirot that she recognizes...
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...Miss Van Schuyler to bed, comes back to the saloon with some needlework. Simon, Linnet, Race, and Pennington are still playing bridge. Jacqueline comes up to Cornelia and begins making conversation....
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Simon makes a bad play in bridge, and Linnet declares that she’s sleepy. Race and Pennington agree that they are too, while Simon says he’ll have a drink before...
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Chapter Thirteen
The next morning, Poirot has just finished shaving when Race comes to his room and informs him that Linnet has been killed by a bullet...
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Dr. Bessner tells Poirot and Race that the pistol shot was point-blank to the head while Linnet was asleep. Poirot finds...
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Race asks Bessner about the time of Linnet’s death, and Bessner puts it between midnight and...
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...manager of the Karnak waits by the smoking room, which he gives to Poirot and Race for the investigation before going back to his work. Race asks Bessner for the whole...
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Poirot asks who discovered the murder, and Race reveals it was Louise Bourget, Linnet’s maid. Race says Simon must be informed, then dismisses...
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Cornelia is in shock as she begins to tell Race and Poirot her story. They establish that she last saw Linnet alive at 11:20 p.m....
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Race notes that no one—as far as he knows—heard the shot that killed Linnet. He and...
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Race and Poirot turn their attention to Cornelia. She claims she’s never met Linnet before and...
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Miss Bowers enters and gives her information to Race and Poirot. She tells them there’s nothing particularly wrong with Miss Van Schuyler and that...
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Chapter Fourteen
Still in the smoking room, Race and Poirot discuss the incident from a few days earlier when someone tried to kill...
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...night. She admits, however, that she can’t think of anyone with a motive except herself. Race has a thought and suddenly leaves the room. Meanwhile, Jacqueline and Poirot recall a conversation...
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Chapter Fifteen
...the pearls, which are definitely missing, everything else in order. Later, walking along the deck, Race tells Poirot about his theory that the splash Fanthorp heard may have been Jacqueline’s pistol...
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...since a robbery might cause a search while everybody is still stuck on the boat. Race and Poirot wonder if Louise knew more than she said. They agree they don’t trust...
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Race asks if there are any other “possibilities,” and Poirot brings up Pennington, the American trustee....
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Race then brings up Ferguson as a suspect. He also brings up “my fellow”—the agitator and...
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Race says the next thing to do is establish the time of the crime. Poirot comments...
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...for a little over half an hour. After that, he heard a man’s voice saying goodnight—Race interjects that this was him speaking to Linnet. Later, after going to sleep, Tim remembers...
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Chapter Sixteen
Race looks over a deck plan of the Karnak and deduces that Miss Van Schuyler had...
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Poirot asks if Miss Van Schuyler has any idea who made the splash—and he and Race are surprised to learn that Miss Van Schuyler knows exactly who it was. She looked...
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Just then, the manager of the Karnak arrives in the smoking room and delivers to Race a wet velvet stole wrapped around a pink-stained handkerchief and a small pistol, which was...
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Miss Van Schuyler leaves, and Race and Poirot discuss how strange it is that Rosalie should be involved. Poirot points out...
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Chapter Seventeen
Still in the smoking room, Race and Poirot discuss next steps. They bring in Rosalie. Rosalie says she and her mother,...
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Race and Poirot proceed with questioning the passengers, and next on the list is Mrs. Otterbourne....
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Next up in the smoking room with Poirot and Race is Signor Richetti. He answers quickly that he was asleep some time before 11 p.m....
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Poirot and Race move on to questioning Ferguson. He has a cabin on the starboard side and thinks...
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Chapter Eighteen
...brought into the smoking room, he acts shocked and saddened at the murder of Linnet. Race asks if he heard anything. Pennington says that his cabin is next to Dr. Bessner’s,...
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Race and Poirot plan to announce at lunch that the pearls have been stolen, and that...
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Poirot asks Race, who knows more about guns, if the velvet stole would actually muffle the sound of...
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Chapter Twenty
While everyone is still in the saloon, Race makes a speech and announces the theft of the pearls, that he’ll be searching the...
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Just then, a steward enters and tells Race that Miss Bowers has asked to speak with him urgently. He and Poirot go to...
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Chapter Twenty-One
Race is astonished as he looks at the pearls Miss Bowers has placed on the table....
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After Miss Bowers leaves, Poirot and Race discuss possibilities. Poirot believes part of Miss Van Schuyler’s testimony may still be true—that she...
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Chapter Twenty-Two
Race and Poirot discuss the implications of the fake pearls. Poirot is sure Linnet was wearing...
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Race and Poirot begin a search of the cabins for the real pearls. They go through...
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Race and Poirot continue the search, going through Miss Van Schuyler’s cabin, their own cabins, Miss...
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After leaving Pennington’s cabin, Poirot suggests Race search Jacqueline’s cabin, Cornelia’s cabin, and two empty cabins while Poirot goes back to speak...
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At this moment, Race comes in to Dr. Bessner’s cabin and announces to Poirot that he found nothing in...
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Race wonders if Louise disappeared because she stole the pearls. He and Poirot begin a search...
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Chapter Twenty-Three
Race examines Louise’s body and tells Poirot she has been dead for about an hour, stabbed...
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Race calls in Dr. Bessner to examine Louise’s body. He confirms that she has been dead...
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Chapter Twenty-Four
Poirot goes back onto the deck where Race once more comes to find him. Race complains that they’re still in the dark, but...
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Race and Poirot go to see Bessner, who reluctantly allows them to ask one question of...
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Mrs. Otterbourne has come, requesting to speak to Poirot and Race immediately. Since Dr. Bessner hasn’t closed the cabin door, she can speak to them, and...
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...someone that Louise seemed to be expecting knocked on her cabin door and went in. Race asks who this person was, but before Mrs. Otterbourne can answer, there’s a Bang!
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...of smoke as Mrs. Otterbourne slumps down with an apparent gunshot wound in her head. Race bends down to examine her while Poirot leaps out to look for a culprit. The...
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Race borrows a glove from Tim and examines the revolver. He reveals that Fanthorp and Ferguson...
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Race and Poirot find Pennington writing letters on the deck below, apparently oblivious to the shot....
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Chapter Twenty-Five
Race and Poirot leave Pennington, agreeing that he seems afraid. As they reach the promenade deck,...
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...would be possible since there’s a brief period of shock after a gun goes off. Race asks everyone to clear the area so that they can bring out the dead body.
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Chapter Twenty-Six
Race finds Poirot still sitting in the saloon and reminds him that his interview with Pennington...
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...a motive to kill Linnet. Fanthorp calls the theory interesting but says there’s no evidence. Race then says Pennington is coming in shortly, so Fanthorp leaves.
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...someone else. Pennington objects forcefully, arguing he wouldn’t even benefit: Simon would get her money. Race notes that because of Simon’s leg and because of witnesses, Simon couldn’t have killed Linnet...
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Chapter Twenty-Seven
Race sighs and says they got more from Pennington than expected: a confession of fraud and...
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...sense to him, Poirot at last says, “Yes, it’s all there. Pennington didn’t do it, Race!” Race is startled. Poirot explains that despite the motive, Pennington isn’t “bold,” only “astute.” Poirot...
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Tim asks Race what happens now that he’s confessed to stealing the pearls. He refuses to admit, however,...
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...Rosalie to come in. A few minutes later Rosalie arrives, with eyes red from crying. Race says he’s sorry to bother her. Poirot tells her what Tim has admitted to, and...
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Chapter Twenty-Eight
Outside the cabin from Tim and Rosalie, Poirot asks Race if he’s okay with the arrangement he made with them. “It is irregular—I know it...
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...Bessner and Cornelia come in, with Cornelia apologetic about her cousin Miss Van Schuyler’s kleptomania. Race assures her they have no interest in creating scandal: “This is Hush Hush House,” he...
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...that Simon is doing well, despite his fever earlier (which Jacqueline had been panicking about). Race says if Simon’s feeling well, they should find him and finish their conversation about Richetti’s...
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Chapter Twenty-Nine
...I might have seen this assassin.” Poirot claims this was a hint—not to Poirot or Race but to someone else present. This leaves two possibilities: Dr. Bessner or Simon.
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Race calls this story impossible, but Poirot reminds him of what Tim heard: “a pop—followed by...
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Race asks about Jacqueline’s first shot (which appeared to hit Simon in the leg but in...
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Chapter Thirty-One
At dawn, the Karnak pulls into Shellal. Race says he’s made arrangements to have Richetti, the agitator, taken ashore first. Race goes on...
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Cornelia comes up to Race and Poirot, telling them that she’s been with Jacqueline to keep her company. When Miss...
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...a gun out of her shoe and shoots Simon dead. She smiles at Poirot, and Race leaps to intervene, but she shoots herself in the heart before they reach her.
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