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 TARRANT, Sir Gerald (continued) STORY 78: “THE GRIM JOKER”: STRIP 8314 Somewhat peeved when he realises that when Modesty and Willie asked him to seek his friend Trahearne’s permission to use his island retreat on Moggairne it was to establish a killing ground to which to lure The Grim Joker. When it is all over he calls on Modesty and finds her having tea with Inspector Brook and demands to know what really happened. STORY 79: “GUIDO THE JINX”: STRIP 8385 When he telephones to talk to Modesty he is given a brief lecture by Weng on the old Silk Road established in the second century B.C. between China and the Mediterranean because Modesty and Willie are somewhere on it at the moment. Asks Weng to pass on his regards should he hear from them. STORY 80: “THE KILLING DISTANCE”: STRIP 8487 Once again he has been inveigled into taking part in local events in Beckleton by Mrs. Fothergill, only this time it is the re-enactment of a visit by King William the Third. The past catches up with him when a gunman makes an attempt to assassinate him during the village festivities. It was ordered by an ex-K.G.B. agent named Ivan Brodsky who he once, disgraced and forced to defect. He believed he was dead. Modesty now takes him under her protection and he tries to dissuade her from taking on Brodsky, who has been given a new identity and has become one of the richest men in the world, Charles B. Delaney. When Modesty goes ahead anyway and Delaney is defeated, he is angry with her, or seems to be, but Willie thinks he only gets grumpy when he is trying to say thank you. I I TARRANT, Sir Gerald (continued) STORY 72: “THE GIRL IN THE IRON MASK”: STRIP 7654 Spending the weekend at Willie’s pub “The Treadmill” fishing, pulling pints and undercharging customers. When Willie receives an anonymous telephone call telling him to look for his friend in Kippel Hole, he uses his department staff to pinpoint its location. Takes charge of the three toughs sent to delay Willie getting there and advises them never to let Willie see them again. STORY 75: “OUR FRIEND MAUDE”: STRIP 7970 He is having lunch with Modesty at her penthouse when Willie telephones from Paris to tell her he has seen Maude Tiller at “Le Gant Noir” with a man he did not recognise. He confirms that Maude did a job for him in Paris but she should now be in Switzerland on leave. Agrees with Modesty that Maude would seem to be in trouble. The genuine Tarrant plays no further part in the story. The illustration is of an actor employed by Zebart to impersonate Tarrant as part of a plan to give the brainwashed Maude what seems to be a genuine order from her boss to assassinate the Head of French Intelligence, René Vaubois. STORY 76 : “A PRESENT FOR THE PRINCESS”: STRIP 8071 While escorting Modesty to the ballet he remarks upon the unique necklace she is wearing. It is of pearls brought up from oyster beds all over the world by Willie over a period of seven years and given to her as a gift. Joins her and the Colliers at her country cottage and senses there is something amiss. Modesty starts to believe Willie has gone missing and he puts out inquiries to his agents. Helps when Dinah Collier tries to apply a her remarkable powers of divination to maps of the world using the unique pearls as a contact. He uses his own powers of intelligence evaluation to interpret the psychic impressions Modesty has obtained from Mr. Haley. 166 Drawn by Romero Strip 7660 26th March, 1991 Drawn by Romero Strip 8004 7th August, 1992 Drawn by Romero Strip 8104A Not published in the Evening Standard Drawn by Romero Strip 8314 29th October, 1993 Drawn by Romero Strip 8385 10th February, 1994 Drawn by Romero Strip 8496 21st July 1994