The Midnight Visitor

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Ausable is a secret agent who is fat, ordinary-looking, and unimpressive. He speaks French and German passably, but he also keeps an American accent from Boston. He does not look like a typical spy, w…

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Fowler is a young, romantic writer who wants to meet Ausable. He first feels disappointed by Ausable’s appearance and room, but later gets his first authentic thrill when he sees Max with a pistol.

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Max is another secret agent who threatens Ausable with a small automatic pistol and demands the report on new missiles. He is slender and has a fox-like appearance, which suggests slyness and cunning.

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Ausable’s room is on the sixth and top floor of a gloomy French hotel. This setting creates a dull, unromantic atmosphere and sharply contrasts with Fowler’s idea of spy-life.

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Ausable is expecting an important report concerning new missiles. This report is treated as highly valuable because several people have risked their lives for it.

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Max wants to take the report on new missiles from Ausable. He threatens Ausable and Fowler with a pistol to force him to give up the report.

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Max entered the room using a passkey. He did not come through any balcony. This detail is important because it becomes part of Ausable’s trick later.

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The balcony is fictional and does not actually exist outside Ausable’s window. Ausable invents the balcony story to frighten Max and make him escape the wrong way.