Chapter 2 Summary

George Smiley has had a bad day and is on his way to his home in Chelsea. He is separated from his wife, Ann, and lives partly on his pension, most of which his wife has withdrawn from their bank account. George meets Roddy Martindale, who seems happy to meet Smiley and invites him to dinner. At dinner, Martindale tells George that George was dismissed from his job in intelligence because of Smiley's close relationship with Control, his supervisor, who Smiley now learns is not really dead. Control's tenure ended because of a Czech affair where a man was killed and the story appeared in the newspapers. Smiley does not comment, so Martindale talks about Percy Alleline, the new intelligence chief. Martindale knows somebody is running something in intelligence and suggests it's Smiley.

Chapter 2 Analysis

George Smiley is introduced. His dinner with Roddy...