anchor: Poirot seized his hat, gave a ferocious twist to his moustache, and, carefully brushing an imaginary speck of dust from his sleeve, motioned me to precede him down the stairs; there we joined the detectives and set out for Styles. 
positive: After he fussily made himself ready to go out, Poirot and I accompanied the detectives to Styles.
negative: Poirot was so anxious to join the detectives that he left his hat and coat behind at the hotel.