Edgar's parents are nice enough, but they are always distracted. They are certainly unimaginative. So, when in need of a story, Edgar braves the stares of the village children and the dark of the woods, and goes to visit Uncle Montague. Uncle Montague lives alone in a big, rambling, creaky house. Alone, that is, except for his manservant Franz, who brings trays of tea and cakes, but never actually enters the room.