Chapter 26 Summary

Smiley visits Sam, the man who was duty officer the night Jim Prideaux was shot and says there are missing pages from the records of that night. Sam tells Smiley about all the details of that night and that Percy Alleline arrived and took over the operation. Sam did not mention control to Alleline. Sam was fired for drinking on the premises and now works for a bookie. Smiley said that Bill Haydon was with Ann when Sam called there. Sam hadn't told Ann anything about the Czechs, so how did Bill know about it when he arrived at the Circus. Sam ventures that Haydon stopped at his club. Smiley then asks why Bill wouldn't have known that the agent was shot.

Chapter 26 Analysis

Smiley's investigation must proceed on the basis of people's memories, since most of the log records have been cut...