Yielding to persuasion, Edgar was treating the pets to a reading from his favourite Agatha Christie novel—a most ingenious poisoning! While his eyes remained on the page, in his mind he was playing the part of Mrs. Christie's world-famous detective, in the depths of South America, expertly examining the deadly curare plant ... Edgar quite fancied the Homburg and the moustache, but drew the line about seeing himself wearing a bow tie. That would just look SILLY.