Chapter 23 Summary

Smiley tells Guilliam that Karla was a legend, working in various countries in Europe. Very little was known about him, and many people who worked with him ended up dead. Nobody except perhaps Gerald knows what Karla's name and cover were. In 1955, Karla went from California to India, where he was arrested on immigration charges at the request of the British under the name Gerstmann. Smiley tries to persuade him to defect, not knowing Gerstmann was Karla. Smiley returned the next day for Karla's decision who still wouldn't talk to him. Karla resumed his career in Moscow and never used illegal radios again. Smiley says the information Alleline had came from the Russians, who were fooled by Tarr.

Smiley spends the night studying and taking note on the various documents Guilliam grought him. He found a pattern with nine reports—either Esterhase...