Who is R. from Collected Short Stories Volume Three and what is their importance? W._Somerset_Maugham English & Literature R. | Collected Short Stories Volume Three

R. is the colonel in the Intelligence Department who first approaches Ashenden about a job as a spy. R.'s real identity is never revealed in the course of the short stories. He is known simply as R., with the exception of one letter to Ashenden where he refers to himself with the pen name of Raymond. R. has a habit of telling Ashenden that one should do what he can to "mitigate the hardships of war" (p. 86). Although R. is respected by Ashenden, it is indicated by the story "The Hairless Mexican" that he does not always choose his employees wisely. Although R. believes that the Mexican will be able to do his job as instructed, the Mexican instead kills the wrong person.