# Macgillivray — The Three Hostages character guide

> Macgillivray in The Three Hostages by John Buchan.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Now Macgillivray, Mr. Macgillivray, Supposing Macgillivray, Meantime Macgillivray, But Macgillivray

**First appearance:** 0003-ii-i-hear-of-the-three-hostages

## Snapshot

Scotland Yard's patient spymaster, coordinating a vast simultaneous roundup while Hannay keeps his own secrets close.

## Who they are

Macgillivray is the senior Yard man Hannay trusts with the mechanics of a coordinated strike, even as Hannay withholds the Medina thread from him. Their partnership runs on professional respect and mutual exasperation: Macgillivray grunts at being kept in the dark, yet accepts Hannay's terms because he knows the stakes. He matters because his timetable — the tenth of June, all arrests simultaneous — becomes the clock ticking under every move Hannay makes.

## Relationships

### [Dominick Medina](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_hostages_se/characters/dominick_medina)

_rivalry_

Macgillivray is a police or intelligence official actively investigating and opposing Medina's criminal activities.

### [David Warcliff](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_hostages_se/characters/david_warcliff)

_professional_

David Warcliff and Macgillivray are colleagues in intelligence or law enforcement, cooperating on the case against Medina.

### [David Warcliff](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_hostages_se/characters/david_warcliff)

_professional_

David Warcliff and Macgillivray are colleagues in intelligence or law enforcement, cooperating on the case against Medina.

### [Dominick Medina](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_hostages_se/characters/dominick_medina)

_rivalry_

Macgillivray is a police or intelligence official actively investigating and opposing Medina's criminal activities.

## In the story

### [The Three Hostages](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_hostages_se/chapters/the-three-hostages)

Meets with Hannay to brief him on the kidnapping plot and the threat posed by Medina.

### [II: I Hear of the Three Hostages](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_hostages_se/chapters/ii-i-hear-of-the-three-hostages)

Macgillivray visits Hannay to plead for his assistance, revealing the full scope of the criminal combine and the three hostage cases. He is earnest, grave, and convinced of the danger.

### [IV: I Make the Acquaintance of a Popular Man](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_hostages_se/chapters/iv-i-make-the-acquaintance-of-a-popular-man)

Intelligence chief; briefs Hannay on the criminal conspiracy and suggests he investigate the Shropshire squire.

### [VII: Some Experiences of a Disciple](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_hostages_se/chapters/vii-some-experiences-of-a-disciple)

Macgillivray agrees to investigate Odell and Medina, warning Hannay of the seriousness and time constraints of the mission.

### [The Blind Spinner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_hostages_se/chapters/viii-the-blind-spinner)

Reports that surveillance on Odell and Palmyra Square has yielded little.

### [I Am Introduced to Strong Magic](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_hostages_se/chapters/ix-i-am-introduced-to-strong-magic)

Macgillivray sends a note to Hannay informing him that Dr. Newhover has booked a passage on the Gudrun, which helps Hannay decide on his next move.

### [X: Confidences at a Wayside Inn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_hostages_se/chapters/x-confidences-at-a-wayside-inn)

Referenced as having knowledge of Medina's financial dealings and setting a deadline for action on June 10th.

### [XIII: I Visit the Fields of Eden](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_hostages_se/chapters/xiii-i-visit-the-fields-of-eden)

His watchers have nothing to report on the Blind Spinner.

### [Our Time Is Narrowed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_hostages_se/chapters/xvi-our-time-is-narrowed)

Hannay urgently needs to inform him of the changed date; Mary is in touch with him.

### [XVII: The District-Visitor in Palmyra Square](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_hostages_se/chapters/xvii-the-district-visitor-in-palmyra-square)

Mentioned as having watchers who might have observed the district-visitor's activities in Palmyra Square.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_hostages_se/characters/macgillivray
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_hostages_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_hostages_se/characters