*** possible spoiler ***
What becomes of the lighter?
In the book, Karla leaves the lighter laying on the ground, but it is never mentioned if George retrieves it or not.
Would you want it back, or would you leave it?
Well, George Smiley has just said goodbye to Ann - for good. So why would he pick up a lighter he has given up tweny-five years ago? To remind him of a woman who has cuckolded him for thirty years (or something lik that)? To remind him of that same woman whom he at last has decided to leave to her own fate?
Smiley may hesitate for a long time before he makes up his mind, but when he does he has covinced himself that it is the right decision and he is ruthless in the carrying out.
Good points Mr.Big & benth04. Once Smiley captured Karla, he felt it was the end of history and that it ended with a whimper, not a bang. Everyone else was thrilled, but for Smiley, it was anticlimactic, so the lighter meant little to him & he could leave it behind. Also agree that he left the lighter behind because it reminded him of Ann & he decided to leave her as well. Now, he could face his new life as a pensioner.
I just put this in another thread in this board, and saw this thread - again:
Karla picks up the lighter. He keeps it and I am sure that Smiley knows that it is one of those small "life insurances" that spies have - at least in literature. Just like he himself keeps a box in his club with extra passports, driving licenses and other documents, a gun, money
'his own certainly, but equally certainly retained in defiance of the Exchange Control Act. He hade them in his pocket now'.