The Baudelaires are sent to live with their herpetologist uncle Monty Montgomery, who has recently come across a reptile he calls the "Incredibly Deadly Viper". While attempting to learn more about Montgomery, Klaus discovers that the hedge maze in Montgomery's garden is the exact same shape as the tattoo on Olaf's ankle.
Olaf poses as Montgomery's new assistant Stefano and attempts to kidnap the Baudelaires, but Montgomery inadvertently thwarts the scheme after receiving an encrypted message instructing him to take the Baudelaires to Peru. Believing "Stefano" to be a spy sent to steal his research, Montgomery fires him.
