- Claude Sitwell: [Inspector Queen has asked Sitwell to identify a card. Sitwell glances at it] Sorry: I can't help you.
- Inspector Richard Queen: Sorry: I don't believe you.
- Claude Sitwell: Inspector, I believe you're calling me a liar.
- Inspector Richard Queen: Maybe just deliberately forgetful.
- Ellery Queen: Well, there you have it. Who do you think killed Lamont Franklin? Was it his widow Carol, or his brother-in-law, Doug Carmichael? How about Claude Sitwell, or Roger Woods, or his wife Emily? How about Billy Geeter, or was it someone else? Now, I'll tell you one thing: that wire spindle is very important. You got the message? Let's see.
- Ellery Queen: [discussing Emily Woods] I don't know why you don't like her.
- Inspector Richard Queen: She reminds me of your Aunt Agatha: a cobra with an Ipana smile.
- Ellery Queen: She was very nice.
- Inspector Richard Queen: Son, when it comes to women, you'd better leave character analysis to your old man.
- Emily Woods: We see so much of you, you're getting to be like one of the family!
- Inspector Richard Queen: Yes, I was saying to Ellery only yesterday how much you remind me of his Aunt Agatha.
- Ellery Queen: Where's the bacon?
- Inspector Richard Queen: At twenty-nine cents a pound, it's still on the pig.
- Lorelei Farnsworth: But I don't understand why Roger killed him.
- Inspector Richard Queen: [Roger has a pushy wife] Must have been something he married.
- Lorelei Farnsworth: But I thought you said you didn't write love stories?
- Ellery Queen: Well, I tried once. But my heroines always got killed off.
- Inspector Richard Queen: Where you were last night between 6:30 and 7 pm?
- Claude Sitwell: Home, soaking in a hot tub.
- Inspector Richard Queen: Alone?
- Claude Sitwell: It's a small tub.
- Inspector Richard Queen: [to Ellery] Now don't tell me. You want all of the suspects gathered together.