Chapter 13 Summary

Connie continues her story, switching to Aleks. He had been in London for seven years before the Circus even know about him, she tells Smiley. He was that good. She provides information about his background, education and description. She used to listen to him talk on tapes, although she had never met or seen him. Smiley learns that he used to live in Highgate and that Alleline and Esterhase wouldn't listen when she said that he was trained by Karla and was a hood, or spy. He asks her how she could be so sure. She says he had army written all over him even though there wasn't anything in the records. He also chose the one flat that the lamplighters couldn't get near.

The lamplighters couldn't find Aleks doing anything unusual, and they lessened the amount of surveillance on him. His activities...