- Inspector Richard Queen: [Ellery has gone off to investigate a clue] Where's he going?
- Security Guard: How would I know? He's with you!
- Inspector Richard Queen: Well, I'm sorry I asked!
- Ellery Queen: Now, why didn't I think of this before? Probably because it's so simple. The impossible crime is not only possible, I know who killed Henry Manners. It was somebody who knew his rigid work schedule, somebody who knew how to get to him, and still have an alibi. Now, that's all the information you need. Oh, don't forget: three buttons were pushed.
- Mitchell McCully: Now are there any more questions? No? Well, if you don't mind, since my column for tomorrow is put to bed, I would like to do the same thing for myself.
- Inspector Richard Queen: You mean I was dragged down here in the middle of the night to find this case is still impossible to solve?
- Ellery Queen: No no no. It used to be impossible. Now it's only improbable.
- Frank Flannigan: There's nothing like a story with a happy ending, and when Flannigan gets a scoop, that's a happy ending.