 While it is generally supposed that Agatha Christie (qv) chose the  name Vole after the ratlike rodent of the same name, in fact the  word has several other meanings also relevant to this character. In  cards, a "vole" means the winning by one player of all the tricks of  a game. And the expression "go the vole" can mean either to venture  everything on the chance of great rewards, or to try one thing after  another, usually a variety of occupations 