The Midnight Visitor

Ausable is different from the usual picture of a secret agent because he is fat, looks ordinary, and has a heavy American accent. He does not seem mysterious or glamorous like spies in books and films. Instead of exciting gadgets and thrilling adventures, he lives in a small, shabby hotel room and speaks in a calm, practical way. So he appears to be a very unromantic secret agent, but he is actually clever and alert.

Fowler is a young writer who wants to meet a real secret agent and get a thrilling experience. His first authentic thrill of the day comes when he enters Ausable’s room and sees Max standing there with a pistol. That sudden sight gives him his first real moment of excitement in the day.

Max got into Ausable’s room by using a passkey. He himself says that he did not know about the balcony and entered by a passkey.

Ausable says that Max got in through the balcony attached to the next apartment and then into his room. He explains that the balcony extends under his window and can be reached from an empty room two doors down. This is the story he tells Max to frighten him and make him believe the balcony exists.