John Buchan

The Three Hostages John Buchan

England is at peace after the end of World War I. Spy-catcher, Richard Hannay, is enjoying the country life at Fosse Manor. However, Hannay's peace is shattered when a dangerous criminal gang kidnap three children of important national figures. The deadline for searching for the hostages is midsummer. Hannay joins forces with Sandy Arbuthnot to face this most difficult enemy whose speciality is hypnotism. That evening, I remember, as I came up through the Mill Meadow, I was feelingpeculiarly happy and contented. It was still mid- March, one of those spring days whennoon is like May, and only the cold pearly haze at sunset warns a man that he is notdone with winter. The season was absurdly early, for the blackthorn was in flower andthe hedge roots were full of primroses. The partridges were paired, the rooks were wellon with their nests, and the meadows were full of shimmering grey flocks of fieldfares ontheir way north.