Mr. Standfast · Chapter
IV: Andrew Amos explained
Hannay, under the alias Cornelius Brand, travels to Glasgow to meet Andrew Amos, a contact who confirms his identity via a secret token.
What happens
Hannay, under the alias Cornelius Brand, travels to Glasgow to meet Andrew Amos, a contact who confirms his identity via a secret token. Amos provides intelligence on Abel Gresson's movements and arranges for Hannay to shadow him on a boat trip. The chapter also recounts a violent political meeting where Gresson speaks, leading to a street fight in which Hannay intervenes to protect Gresson.
Themes in this chapter
Deception and Disguise
Hannay operates under the alias Cornelius Brand, and the use of a secret wafer token between him and Amos underscores the theme of hidden identities and covert operations.
Comradeship and Loyalty
Hannay reluctantly fights to protect Gresson despite personal risk, and Amos provides loyal support through intelligence and arrangements.
Class and Social Division
The political meeting highlights class tensions, with the speaker attacking the rich, the middle classes, and army officers, leading to violent conflict with soldiers.
Characters to notice
- Richard Hannay
Narrator and protagonist, operating under the alias Cornelius Brand. He meets Andrew Amos in Glasgow and intervenes in a street fight to protect Abel Gresson.
- Abel Gresson
American speaker at a political meeting who incites a riot. Hannay protects him during a subsequent street fight. Amos reveals Gresson is sailing as purser on the Tobermory.
- Andrew Amos
A shipwright and contact in Glasgow who verifies Hannay's identity via a purple-and-white wafer token. He provides intelligence on Gresson and arranges for Hannay to take a trip on the Tobermory.
- Cornelius Brand
Hannay's alias used throughout the chapter. He is introduced to Amos as Mr. Brand and is said to be from South Africa.
- Mary Lamington
Referenced indirectly through the purple-and-white wafer token used by Amos to confirm Hannay's identity.
- John S. Blenkiron
Mentioned as the source of the address for Andrew Amos in Glasgow.
Key passages
“I took the train three days later from King's Cross to Edinburgh. I went to the Pentland Hotel in Princes Street and left there a suitcase containing some clean linen and a change of clothes.”
Three days later, Hannay traveled by train from London to Edinburgh, where he stored a suitcase with fresh clothes at the Pentland Hotel.
Hannay establishes a base in Edinburgh before proceeding to Glasgow.
“He extricated from his trousers pocket an ancient silver watch, and regarded it with disfavour. 'The dashed thing has stoppit. What do ye make the time, Mr. Brand?' He proceeded to prise open the lid of his watch with the knife he had used to cut his tobacco, and, as he examined the works, he turned the back of the case towards me. On the inside I saw pasted Mary Lamington's purple-and-white wafer.”
Amos showed Hannay the inside of his watch case, which contained Mary Lamington's purple-and-white wafer token, confirming his identity as a fellow agent.
The secret token serves as a verification method between allies.
“I saw in the lamplight the vicious gleam in the American's eye and the twitch of his hand to his pocket. That decided me to interfere and I got in front of him.”
Hannay intervened in the fight because he feared Gresson would use the gun in his pocket, which could have caused serious trouble.
Hannay's intervention prevents a potential escalation involving a firearm.