Travels

Although the story takes place in Britain, it is perhaps, in part, this unique combination of Scottish heathered hills, the golden dust of the Veld and Kent's lilac-scented air in Kent, not to mention the crowds and chatter of busy London by night that makes this book so appealing.

A few words about John Buchan, perhaps

What's a Lanchester anyway?

A slip of logic

Trains, planes & automobiles

Lentonite for beginners

Weights, measures & currencies

English subtitles

Words that may require an explanation

Repeats & echoes

Inside the cellar

Inside the Portland Place appartment

Beginnings & endings

The Scudder Code

Much obliged to you for the grub

A bit of sport

Incredible luck & fortuitous circumstances

A man of action

All six senses

Words and expressions from the time

Historical context

Timeline

Places and whereabouts

Characters, people met and mentioned

There is an incredible gallery, including those about whom Hannay speaks without ever meeting them here, but that we can also imagine. Included are those who play a key role, bit-players and passers-by and those who aren't part of the story, but whom Hannay mentions and who, sometimes, are nevertheless essential to the plot, like his friend François Pienaar.

Executive summary