Continental Op Stories · Chapter
Einarson in Control explained
The Continental Op returns to the hotel, arms himself, and joins Grantham and Colonel Einarson for a revolutionary meeting.
What happens
The Continental Op returns to the hotel, arms himself, and joins Grantham and Colonel Einarson for a revolutionary meeting. Einarson takes command of the conspirators, quashing dissent with force and intimidation, including spitting in a country politician's face and having soldiers remove him. The revolution is set for early Thursday morning. After the meeting, the Op walks back, is tailed, knocks out his pursuer with a blackjack, and continues to Romaine Frankl's house.
Themes in this chapter
Violence and Survival
Einarson uses physical intimidation and soldiers to enforce control; the Op knocks out a tail with a blackjack.
Class and Power
The meeting includes bankers, politicians, professors, and laborers, highlighting class tensions in the revolutionary plot.
Loyalty and Betrayal
Dissenters like the banker and country politician are silenced or removed, testing loyalty to Einarson's leadership.
Characters to notice
- The Continental Op
Returns to hotel, arms himself, attends revolutionary meeting, later knocks out a tail.
- Lionel Grantham
Meets the Op in his suite, explains the revolution's secrecy, identifies conspirators, and speaks at the meeting.
- Colonel Einarson
Arrives in dinner coat, takes command of the meeting, intimidates dissenters, and sets the revolution for Thursday morning.
- Romaine Frankl
Mentioned as the Op's destination after the meeting.
Key passages
“I got back to the hotel at eleven-thirty, loaded my hips with gun and blackjack, and went upstairs to Grantham’s suite.”
The Op returned to the hotel at 11:30 PM, armed himself, and went to Grantham's room.
Sets the time and the Op's preparation for the night's events.
“Colonel Einarson arrived, in a dinner coat, but very much the soldier, the man of action.”
Einarson showed up in formal wear but exuded a military, decisive demeanor.
Contrasts his appearance with his commanding presence.
“The meeting became rough. A lot of people were yelping at once, but nobody talked down Einarson’s bellow.”
The meeting turned chaotic with many shouting, but Einarson's voice dominated.
Highlights Einarson's control over the unruly assembly.
“Colonel Einarson said: “Ach!” and spat in the countryman’s face.”
Einarson spat in the face of the country politician to assert dominance.
A shocking act of intimidation that quells opposition.
“My first crack at him went wrong—the blackjack took him too far forward, on the cheek. The second one got him fairly behind the ear.”
The Op's first blow with the blackjack hit the man's cheek instead of the intended spot, but the second strike landed correctly behind the ear.
Shows the Op's skill and the violent encounter with his tail.