He is forced to be literate about the illiterate, witty about the witless and coherent about the incoherent.

Though lust do masque in ne'er so strange disguise she's oft found witty, but is never wise.

When you're drowning, you don't say 'I would be incredibly pleased if someone would have the foresight to notice me drowning and come and help me,' you just scream.

We think that the character is actually modeled after Noel Coward himself. It's a play about a very witty man leading his life in the theater.

And why would I be hiding from Master Chubb in his own kitchen?" Halt challenged. Again, Horace shrugged innocently.
"Well, there was a tray of freshly made pies airing on the windowsill, wasn't there? And you're quite fond of pies, aren't you, Halt?"
Halt drew himself up very straight in the saddle. "Are you accusing me of sneaking into that kitchen to steal the pies for myself? Is that it?"
His voice and body language simply reeked of injured dignity.
"Of course not, Halt!" Horace hurried to assure him, and Halt's stiff-shouldered form relaxed a little.
"I just thought I'd give you the opportunity to confess," Horace added.

He was a typical Eagle Scout that did his job properly. We go way back.