Poirot is only slightly nonplussed by the hovering green seashell acting as some sort of recording device. He knows that sooner or later, there will be ways to make records and the emerging reel to reel tapes smaller.

And then he proceeds to explain about the importance of Epiphany, the edicts that extended the holy season from Christmas through New Year's Day and into the next year, and the fairly high number of sacred days on the Catholic calendar.