V: Waiting explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Identity and Disguise

  Hobhouse's entire existence on Ransay is a performance, from his scholarly persona to his feigned limp. The chapter highlights the constant effort required to maintain the disguise.

• Suspicion and Paranoia

  Hobhouse is suspicious of everyone, including Dr. Rendall, and is aware that the islanders are initially suspicious of him. The atmosphere is thick with mutual mistrust.

• Isolation and Community

  The harsh winter weather and remote island setting emphasize Hobhouse's isolation. His interactions with the Scollay family show the close-knit nature of the island community.

Characters to notice

• Thomas Sylvester Hobhouse

  Maintains his disguise as an antiquarian, using it as a cover for his surveillance. He reflects on the difficulty of his mission and the lack of progress.

• Dr. Rendall

  Approves of Hobhouse's hobby as a counter to alcoholism. His moody and furtive behavior at night revives Hobhouse's suspicions.

• Jock

  Encountered near the Scollay farm. Hobhouse fears Jock's instinct might recognize him, but Jock shows no sign of recognition.

• Peter Scollay

  Initially suspicious of Hobhouse but is won over by his friendliness. He tells a story about fairies dancing around the knoll.

• Mr. H.

  Instructed to act as if he were alone on the job. He makes an early expedition to the site of a prehistoric building near the Scollays' farm.

Key passages

• “By a fortunate chance Dr. Rendall was no expert in antiquarian matters, and yet had sufficient respect for those who were to give them every encouragement and make all allowances for any irregularity in their hours caused thereby.”

  Dr. Rendall's ignorance of antiquities was lucky for Hobhouse, as the doctor's respect for the subject gave him an excuse for his odd hours.

  Explains how Hobhouse's cover story is supported by Dr. Rendall's attitude.

• “In short this hobby not only gave this enthusiastic gentleman a sound pretext for being in the most out of the way places at the most unlikely hours, but also for inspecting narrowly with his own eyes each white bearded patriarch who might, or might not, have worn six months ago a pair of tinted spectacles; which⁠—to descend slightly in the literary scale⁠—accounts for the milk in the coconut.”

  The antiquarian hobby was a perfect cover for Hobhouse to explore the island and search for the old man with tinted spectacles.

  Reveals the true purpose behind Hobhouse's scholarly pursuits.

• “But what Thomas Sylvester devoutly prayed the doctor did not see was his patient slipping out of his window in the small hours of the morning, and from the roof of an outhouse just below, examining the shore through a night glass.”

  Hobhouse secretly left his room at night to watch the shore, hoping the doctor wouldn't notice.

  Shows Hobhouse's covert surveillance activities.

• “And to my vast relief, Jock showed no glimmer of recognition of the young man with the revolver.”

  Hobhouse was relieved that Jock did not recognize him as Merton.

  Highlights the constant risk of being discovered.

• “The visit to the Scollays was a distinct success, so far as establishing the personality of Mr. Thomas Sylvester Hobhouse went.”

  The visit to the Scollays successfully solidified Hobhouse's cover identity.

  Marks a small victory in his mission.

• “That was the baffling feature of the business. As my cousin said, such scent as there was had grown cold by this time, and one had to begin at the beginning again. And so far there seemed to be no beginning.”

  The investigation had stalled, with no new leads to follow.

  Expresses Hobhouse's frustration and the difficulty of his task.