Complex sentence: Mystery novelist Ariadne Oliver, Scotland Yard's Superintendent Battle, Colonel Race of His Majesty's Secret Service, Dr Geoffrey Roberts, Mrs Lorrimer, Major John Despard, Miss Anne Meredith and Poirot converse as dinner is prepared.
Split into simpler sentences: Mystery novelist Ariadne Oliver, Scotland Yard's Superintendent Battle and Colonel Race of His Majesty's Secret Service. The other four guests are Dr. Roberts, Mrs. Lorrimer, Major John Despard, Miss Anne Meredith and Poirot converse as dinner is prepared.