Atdtda29: Usual Theign, 806-807

[Paul Nightingale]

The new chapter begins with "the Austrian announcement that they were
intending to annex Bosnia", a plot development associated here with Theign
"more haggard than usual". The map (or "toy") he produces puts the 'local'
situation into some kind of "almost godlike" perspective; but also indicates
the gap between political abstraction and the experience of those "on the
spot". On 800 Bevis is suspicious of Theign's intentions; here, his ability
to read, or decipher, "[t]he tone of voice, the expression on Theign's face"
(807) is in marked contrast to the (inscrutable) map that, for the most
part, Cyprian alone comments on.

For Cyprian, the "naughty" (806) map is a tool that will confirm his status
as operative. By way of contrast, Bevis comments on his/their relationship
to Theign, and the likely consequences, eg: "... he knows we won't live long
enough to use it" (807). On 800 Theign ("his head in the door") inserts
himself into the scene unfolding between Cyprian and Bevis. On that
occasion, the reader is reminded of the Cyprian-Theign relationship/conflict
as it concludes Ch51 on 722-723, the last appearance for either until 56.5.
However, on 800, Theign is immediately associated with Bevis, not Cyprian,
eg: "... in the habit of pronouncing each time he looked into young
Moistleigh's cubbyhole" (800). It is Bevis' suspicions that are carried
forward to 57.1, given that Cyprian falls (back) into bicker-mode.