"The Red Symbol" by John Ironside is a mystery novel written in the early 20th century. The story centers around Maurice Wynn, a special correspondent who is unexpectedly called to St. Petersburg amidst a web of intrigue involving danger, a mysterious foreigner, and a potential connection to the woman he loves, Anne Pendennis. As the plot unfolds, it reveals intertwining elements of love and danger in a politically charged environment. At the start of the book, we are introduced to Maurice Wynn, who receives an urgent call regarding an assignment to travel to Russia. Before leaving, he hopes to confess his feelings to Anne Pendennis at a dinner, but unforeseen events derail his plans. A foreign old man turns up at his flat, seemingly connected to Anne's safety, and after a brief encounter where the man collapses, Maurice discovers that he's been entrusted with a photograph of Anne. This mysterious figure is soon revealed to be linked to a series of alarming events that spiral into a murder investigation involving Cassavetti, a man who was seen at the same dinner as Anne. The tension escalates with themes of jealousy, intrigue, and a foreboding sense of danger that looms over the characters, especially Anne, as the chapters progress. (This is an automatically generated summary.)