EXTRACTS: The Modesty Blaise Companion Expanded Edition © 2018 The Book Palace (425 PAGES in Full edition)

T H E M O D E S T Y B L A I S E C O M P A N I O N I I 160 TARRANT, Sir Gerald (continued) STORY 3: “THE GABRIEL SET-UP”: STRIP 230 His relationship with Modesty has developed socially and he is seen here in an informal mode while spending a quiet weekend with her at her country cottage. During the stay he reveals that some very secret information has somehow been leaked and that he suspects the Phoenix Sanatorium in Canada. As Willie happens to already be in the area Modesty asks him to investigate and when he reports that it has the smell of a Gabriel operation he allows Modesty to convince him to let her take the matter further. He provides local liaison and support and even goes so far as to visit Willie in hospital when it is all over. STORY 4: “MISTER SUN”: STRIP 371 Having now been fully accepted by Modesty and Willie he is privileged to be allowed into their private world and to watch them practicing their combat routines. He finds their dedication rather more than a little daunting. When Modesty is told that Weng has disappeared from his place at Hong Kong University she immediately sets out to find him and he helps ease their way by informing the local police that her visit to Hong Kong is on private business. STORY 5: “THE MIND OF MRS. DRAKE”: STRIP 509 He suspects the professional psychic Mrs. Drake of being involved in indentifying and suborning people for espionage. She is under the direction of V. N. Korzon. He sends his agent Jeannie Challon to investigate. She is quickly kidnapped and then ruthlessly murdered. Both Mrs. Drake and Korzon go into hiding. Willie has the idea of using a psychic to find a psychic which works. The spy ring is broken, Drake and Korzon killed and the rest of the gang captured after his judicial use of a high powered hose. TARRANT, Sir Gerald (continued) STORY 7: “TOP TRAITOR”: STRIP 744 When he disappears at the same time as the Acorn File, a consolidated list of his department’s agents working east of Berlin containing their individual codes and communications systems, the first thought is that he has defected. His deputy, Fraser, together with Modesty and Willie do not believe it and set out to learn what really has happened to him. They discover he has, in fact, been kidnapped by the Graf von Schuyler, boss of an independent and international freelance intelligence group who is offering him for sale by auction to an invited group of foreign powers. The buyer will then be free to extract the information in his head. Already in a weakened condition after being imprisoned and starved, he is found and rescued by Modesty and Willie and carried to safety. Willie returns the compliment paid to him earlier by visiting him in hospital. STORY 8 “THE VIKINGS” STRIP 991 Takes tea with Modesty and Willie when they get back from their adventure with Captain Magnus and his pirates. He learns that she had received a bullet wound in her thigh and is embarrassed when Willie insists upon giving it a very close examination at the tea table. STORY 9: “THE HEAD GIRLS”: STRIP 1031 Is at his club using Willie’s card playing skills to upset two of the more patronising members when he receives the reports of the explosion at the Ministry of Defence and the murder of Carson Bell. When Willie spots him being followed and gets the car number, he has Fraser look into it. He sends his man Benton to investigate the death of Sharon Dale and when everything leads back to Superior Secretaries Ltd., he sets up the police raid on their offices. When the building blows up and is destroyed he is devastated, knowing that both Modesty and Willie were inside. When they turn up at Wapping with the River Police he goes there at once and they even give him a lift home. Drawn by Jim Holdaway Strip 231 25th January, 1964 Drawn by Jim Holdaway Strip 376 14th 1july, 1964 Drawn by Jim Holdaway Strip 531 13th January, 1965 Drawn by Jim Holdaway Strip 845 18th January, 1966 Drawn by Jim Holdaway Strip 991 8th July, 1966 Drawn by Jim Holdaway Strip 1035 29th August, 1966