40 pages • 1 hour read
John BuchanThe Thirty Nine Steps
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1915A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Chapters 8-10Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Chapter 8 Summary: “The Coming of the Black Stone”
Hannay helps Sir Walter make plans for how to stop the Black Stone. A French representative, Royer, will meet a small group of politicians at Sir Walter’s London house that night to receive intelligence about Britain’s naval arrangements. They suspect the Black Stone will try to steal the information.
Dressed as a chauffeur, Hannay drives Sir Walter from his country house to his London residence. They first visit an official at Scotland Yard, MacGillivray, to confirm that Hannay is no longer a suspect. From there, Hannay is told he can return to his London apartment and wait while the diplomats take care of their business.
Though he knows the details are out of his control, Hannay feels restless after being in the middle of the intrigue for several weeks. He feels the need to go to Sir Walter’s house. Along the way, he runs into Marmie, who yells out that he is a murderer and tries to get his friends and a nearby policeman to seize Hannay. As Hannay’s frustration breaks out, he punches Marmie and flees to Sir Walter’s.
Sir Walter’s butler allows Hannay to wait in the hall while the political meeting goes on in a back room.
