- DCI Tom Barnaby: Smothered by a meat pudding, flattened by the roller and bashed about the head. Not necessarily in that order.
- Sergeant Gavin Troy: Think it could be accidental, sir?
- DCI Tom Barnaby: No time for jokes, Troy.
- Anthony Talbot: Boy comes in here to help, and what do you do? - Make a string of vile insinuations!
- DCI Tom Barnaby: Making inquiries, Mr. Talbot, not insinuations.
- Anthony Talbot: I hope you're not one of those chip on the soldier types who always takes the criminal's side, Barnaby.
- DCI Tom Barnaby: No, I'm one of those 'let's do the job properly' types.
- [last lines]
- DCI Tom Barnaby: Charlie Meynell was right.
- Sergeant Gavin Troy: About what, sir?
- DCI Tom Barnaby: He said they were like kids in a gang. In the end it wasn't about making money, it was about who was in, who was out, who was the leader, who was top dog.
- Sergeant Gavin Troy: School, it's supposed to be the happiest days of your life, aren't they, sir?
- DCI Tom Barnaby: That's what they say, Troy.
- Sergeant Gavin Troy: I never did get that.
- Jonathan Eckersley-Hyde: I can assure you, Mrs. Woodard, I am moving heaven and earth to find a place for young Toby.
- Anthony Talbot: A word, if I may.
- Jonathan Eckersley-Hyde: Anthony, may I introduce...
- Jonathan Eckersley-Hyde: Now, Jonathan.
- Anthony Talbot: Please, excuse me.
- George Woodard: That's Anthony Talbot, Sir Walter's son. He's a diplomat as well.
- DCI Tom Barnaby: [sarcastic] Yes, you can tell.
- Jonathan Eckersley-Hyde: Do you have a son, Inspector?
- DCI Tom Barnaby: No, I have a daughter.
- Jonathan Eckersley-Hyde: Then you have been spared. Personal hygiene and the adolescent male are rarely on speaking terms.
- [first lines]
- Marcus Heywood: The club demands an answer, Talbot. Now, have you been discussing club matters with outsiders?