Despite giving an air of being weary and slow-moving, Teal is a brilliant detective, and one whom Templar occasionally underestimates. He also has demonstrated the ability to exhibit surprising dexterity and speed when the need arises. (In one early story, he braves entering a gas-filled cellar – at grave risk of being gassed to death himself – in order to carry an unconscious Templar to safety, an action he later half-jokingly regrets.) In "The Misfortunes of Mr. Teal", Charteris states outright that Teal's weary, sloth-like demeanor is an affectation. In several Saint stories, Teal is shown unexpectedly noticing a detail or uncovering a clue that more often than not hinders Templar's quest for "boodle" (loot), as in, for example, the story "The Unusual Ending" in "The Brighter Buccaneer".