Ashenden · Chapter
VI: The Greek explained
Ashenden arrives in Naples and spends three days enjoying the city's atmosphere before the Hairless Mexican appears in his hotel room, having located the Greek spy Constantine Andreadi.
What happens
Ashenden arrives in Naples and spends three days enjoying the city's atmosphere before the Hairless Mexican appears in his hotel room, having located the Greek spy Constantine Andreadi. They attempt to retrieve secret papers from Andreadi's hotel room but fail. After a tense night, Ashenden decodes a telegram revealing that Andreadi was detained in Piraeus and never sailed, meaning the Hairless Mexican has killed the wrong man.
Themes in this chapter
Deception and Identity
The Hairless Mexican changes his wig and appearance; Andreadi travels under a false name and shaves his beard; the entire mission is built on mistaken identity.
Futility and Cynicism
The mission ends in a tragic error—killing the wrong man—highlighting the futility and grim absurdity of espionage work.
Characters to notice
- Ashenden
Arrives in Naples, enjoys the city, and later decodes the telegram revealing the fatal mistake.
- The Hairless Mexican
Finds the Greek spy, attempts to retrieve papers, and ultimately kills the wrong man.
- Constantine Andreadi
The Greek spy who is the target of the mission; later revealed to have been detained in Piraeus.
Key passages
“He observed the curious little pain with which the memories of the past wrung his heartstrings.”
He felt a strange, small ache as old memories tugged at his emotions.
Reflects Ashenden's nostalgic melancholy while wandering Naples.
“You bloody fool, you’ve killed the wrong man.”
You idiot, you murdered the wrong person.
Ashenden's furious realization of the fatal mistake.