# Question about Poirot episode- dueling in a confined area **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 11, 2016, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-poirot-episode-dueling-in-a-confined-area/762469 "2016-08-11T18:11:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2016, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-poirot-episode-dueling-in-a-confined-area/762469/1 "2016-08-11T18:11:43Z")
In the Poirot episode, [“The Mystery of the Spanish Chest” (season 3, ep 8),](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0676184/?ref_=tt_ep_nx)the prologue shows a duel of some kind. The participants draw a grid on the floor and apparently they aren’t supposed to step out of it. Here is a [screen shot.](http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab72/EveOz/Poirot_zpstf8k0qh4.jpg) Does anyone know what this is called and what the rules are? I’m guessing the object is not necessarily to kill the other person, but to draw blood. At the beginning of the duel, one of the participants actually scratches the other’s arm, causing blood to flow. This kind of arcane thing fascinates me. ---
**Author:** ![Tierce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea5d25/32.png) [@Tierce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tierce)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2016, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-poirot-episode-dueling-in-a-confined-area/762469/2 "2016-08-11T19:04:49Z")
Offhand, looks like [Mensur](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academic_fencing) to me. ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2016, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-poirot-episode-dueling-in-a-confined-area/762469/3 "2016-08-11T19:16:11Z")
From Tierce’s Link: > [@](#): > > The opening scene of “The Mystery of the Spanish Chest,” in season three of _Agatha Christie’s Poirot_, features two men fighting in the mensur style. The episode’s dialogue implies that the fencers are English, rather than German, and that one fencer has challenged the other to a duel over a woman. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2016, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-poirot-episode-dueling-in-a-confined-area/762469/4 "2016-08-11T21:42:02Z")
All right! I knew that was the name of the facial scar, but didn’t realize that was the name of the swordfighting, too. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Tierce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea5d25/32.png) [@Tierce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tierce)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2016, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-poirot-episode-dueling-in-a-confined-area/762469/5 "2016-08-11T23:20:44Z")
No problem. As a fencing coach, I seldom get the chance to jump in first with an answer around here. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2016, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-poirot-episode-dueling-in-a-confined-area/762469/6 "2016-08-11T23:22:36Z")
Oooo, fencing coach. Do you mind if I pick your brain a bit? I’ve been telling myself I wanted to take lessons for years now but…ya know…I’m too lazy to actually GO to the gym and ask questions. ---
**Author:** ![Tierce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea5d25/32.png) [@Tierce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tierce)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2016, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-poirot-episode-dueling-in-a-confined-area/762469/7 "2016-08-11T23:25:40Z")
Sure. Probably via PM for now - wouldn’t want to hijack **ThelmaLou** ’s thread, and I’m not sure I have time for a full-fledged “Ask the fencing coach” thread. ETA: or I suppose you could start a thread with your questions… ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2016, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-poirot-episode-dueling-in-a-confined-area/762469/8 "2016-08-11T23:42:17Z")
New thread [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=19547551#post19547551) ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2016, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-poirot-episode-dueling-in-a-confined-area/762469/9 "2016-08-12T00:31:01Z")
Rats. I would have loved to have y’all hijack my thread. I would have served schnapps and some nibbles. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2016, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-poirot-episode-dueling-in-a-confined-area/762469/10 "2016-08-12T00:50:54Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Rats. I would have loved to have y’all hijack my thread. I would have served schnapps and some nibbles. Yeah, instead of a hijack, I sort of caused a desertion. Sorry! You are more than welcome to serve schnapps n nibbles over at mine. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2016, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-poirot-episode-dueling-in-a-confined-area/762469/11 "2016-08-12T02:40:50Z")
> [@tierce](#): > > as a fencing coach, i seldom get the chance to jump in first 🙂 🙂