shared with the United States. Smiley instructs Westerby to become more proactive in his investigations, forcing Drake to move forward with his plans to extract Nelson. The banker from whom Westerby had acquired Ko's identity, Frost, is brutally murdered, and Westerby and his Hong Kong colleague Luke are shown the mutilated body. Concerned for his safety, Westerby travels in and out of war-torn Cambodia, Vietnam, and Thailand, where Ricardo tries to kill Westerby. On his return to Hong Kong, Westerby finds Luke murdered in his apartment. Westerby becomes increasingly stressed and begins to obsess over Worthington's situation, the ethics of the operation, and Western involvement in Asia. Sam Collins has blackmailed Worthington into bugging and informing on Drake. The Circus now has enough information to predict Drake's plan, which replicates his own escape from China via sea. Westerby is ordered to return to London. Westerby ignores this and contacts Worthington to warn her of the danger she is in. Smiley along with Circus and CIA operatives arrive in Hong Kong to oversee the final stages of the operation. Smiley and his men encounter Westerby and try to force him to board a plane but Westerby escapes and with Worthington's help, reaches the rendezvous point where Drake intends to meet his brother. Westerby warns Drake of the plans of the intelligence agencies in an effort to protect Worthington from reprisal and to have an opportunity to be with her, but Drake does not heed his warning. At their appointed meeting place on the beach, CIA forces seize Nelson, and Westerby is killed by Fawn, a Circus operative. In the aftermath, the CIA detains and interrogates Nelson, freezing the Circus out. The success of the operation yields top Circus jobs for Enderby, who becomes Chief, and Collins, who becomes Head of Operations. Smiley and Connie Sachs are retired and most of the older generation of Circus personnel are moved on. In the aftermath of the debacle, Peter Guillam contemplates the possibility that Smiley allowed the CIA to gain the upper hand so as to have himself removed as head of the Circus. Characters The Circus The Hon. Jerry Westerby — a reporter and retired secret agent George Smiley — (temporary) chief of the Circus Peter Guillam — Circus "cupbearer" to Smiley Fawn – Hardman Scalphunter, later Smiley's minder Connie Sachs — chief Moscow-gazer Doc di Salis — head China-watcher Molly Meakin —