# Gustav — Ashenden character guide

> Gustav in Ashenden by W. Somerset Maugham.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** IX Gustav

**First appearance:** 0010-ix-gustav

## Snapshot

The secret service's star agent in Basle, a travelling salesman whose innocent letters to his wife conceal a meticulous code — until R.'s instinct pricks.

## Who they are

Gustav moves up and down the Rhine as a Swiss commercial traveller, gathering troop movements and munitions intelligence so reliable that R. holds his reports up as models for every other agent. Paid better than his colleagues, rewarded with bonuses, he seems the perfect instrument of the service. Then something in R.'s quick instinct stirs, and Ashenden is sent to Basle to talk to Gustav's wife — a quiet errand that will test how much of the agent's comfortable double life is real.

## Relationships

### [Ashenden](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ashenden_se/characters/ashenden)

_professional_

Gustav is a Swiss hotel manager who assists Ashenden with logistical arrangements during his espionage activities.

### [Ashenden](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ashenden_se/characters/ashenden)

_professional_

Gustav is a Swiss hotel manager who assists Ashenden with logistical arrangements during his espionage activities.

### [Ashenden](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ashenden_se/characters/ashenden)

_professional_

Gustav is a Swiss hotel manager who assists Ashenden with logistical arrangements during his espionage activities.

## In the story

### [II: A Domiciliary Visit](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ashenden_se/chapters/ii-a-domiciliary-visit)

Not directly present, but the Indian agent's report about the Bengali spy in German service relates to Gustav's network.

### [IX: Gustav](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ashenden_se/chapters/ix-gustav)

A spy who has been fabricating reports from Basle; admits his deception when confronted by Ashenden.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ashenden_se/characters/gustav
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ashenden_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ashenden_se/characters