# Our Time Is Narrowed explained — The Three Hostages

> Chapter companion for The Three Hostages by John Buchan.

## What happens

Hannay discovers Medina's diary sheets revealing that the planned 'liquidation' date has been moved to June 2nd. He urgently contacts Mary to warn everyone, and she visits Hill Street to maintain their cover. Hannay becomes a prisoner in Medina's house, struggling to communicate with Macgillivray and Sandy while Medina grows increasingly suspicious. Hannay finds himself alone in Medina's library, where he discovers the crucial diary sheets.

## Themes in this chapter

### Psychological Warfare

Hannay and Mary engage in a tense performance to deceive Medina, while Medina's suspicion and control create a psychological prison for Hannay.

### Identity and Deception

Hannay must maintain his false identity as Medina's disciple while secretly working against him; Mary plays the role of a worried mother to maintain their cover.

### The Cost of Peace

The urgency of the changed date and the threat of hostages underscore the high stakes and personal cost of preventing Medina's plans.

## Character check-ins

### Richard Hannay

Discovers Medina's diary sheets showing the changed date to June 2nd; becomes a prisoner in Medina's house; struggles to communicate with allies.

### Mary Hannay

Receives Hannay's urgent warning; visits Hill Street to maintain cover; acts as a distraught mother to allay suspicion.

### Dominick Medina

Grows increasingly suspicious and preoccupied; keeps Hannay under close watch; reveals knowledge of Sandy Arbuthnot's return to England.

### Sandy Arbuthnot

Mentioned as having been seen again in England; Hannay and Mary are in touch with him but communication is slow.

### Macgillivray

Hannay urgently needs to inform him of the changed date; Mary is in touch with him.

### Tom Greenslade

Mentioned as being fussy about Peter John; used as part of the cover story.

## Key lines

> I had lost all my tremors now, but I was a thousandfold more restless. I must get word to Macgillivray at once—no, that was too dangerous—to Mary.

Hannay's fear is replaced by intense urgency; he decides to contact Mary instead of Macgillivray to avoid risk.

_Shows Hannay's shift from fear to decisive action under pressure._

> The first sheet contained the steps that Medina would take up to the day of liquidation, which was clearly the 2nd of June. After that, if all went well, came peace and leisure. But if it didn't go well, the second sheet contained his plans—plans I have no doubt for using the hostages, for wringing safety out of certain great men's fears.

Hannay interprets the diary sheets: the first outlines Medina's plan up to June 2nd, the second contains contingency plans involving hostages.

_Reveals the critical discovery that drives the chapter's tension._

> I felt a kind of awe creeping over me when I found myself left alone in the uncanny place, which I knew to be the devil's kitchen for all his schemes.

Hannay feels a sense of dread being alone in Medina's library, which he knows is the center of his evil plans.

_Highlights the ominous atmosphere and Hannay's growing awareness of the danger._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_three_hostages_se/chapters/xvi-our-time-is-narrowed
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_three_hostages_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_three_hostages_se/chapters