As I was unable to see myself as others saw me, I cannot say precisely what effect I produced, but if a habit of looking suddenly and guiltily at the floor when I caught a hard staring eye, a conspicuous difficulty in following the order of the service and knowing what book to be picked up and whether to kneel, sit, or stand, and peculiarly unpleasant shake which I introduced into my top note--if all these manifestations failed to convey the impression that I was a very suspicious person indeed, well, all I can say is that they ought to have done so, and that that congregation must have been singularly deficient in the proper kind of imagination. Of course I could hardly expect a sympathetic signal to be actually made in church, but I did hope my performance would surely bear fruit before many hours had passed. At last the service ended, the commons crowded out, and the laird and his daughter rose in their wake and greeted the minister on their way to the door. I noticed that they did not introduce me, and also that the Reverend Mr. Mackenzie regarded me--over Miss Rendall's shoulder--with a sternly suspicious glance. Evidently he had heard ill of me already, and hope burned higher. If the minister had heard dark rumours, surely the spies had! Or anyhow they would when that congregation had all reached their homes (if they were not among the congregation themselves). We passed again through many eyes in the kirkyard, and then the Rev. Mr. Mackenzie and the laird walked together for a short way and I found myself alone with Miss Jean. "I didn't see Dr. Rendall or Mr. O'Brien in church," I remarked. "They very seldom come to church," said she. "I gather that Mr. O'Brien is visiting the doctor," I observed. "Yes," said she, in a tone that promised little further information. "Has he been staying with him long?" I preserved. "For some time." "Old friends, I suppose." She did not seem to hear me, and I gave it up--in the meanwhile; but to myself I said complacently, "Some mystery here!" Presently I remarked, "There was another face I didn't see--the island patriarch." She looked at me quickly. "The patriarch--who do you mean?" "An old gentleman with a white beard, tinted spectacles, and overcoat somewhat the worse for wear. He hailed me on the road yesterday and asked for a match. I imagine he must live somewhere near the doctor's house." She looked very thoughtful for a moment and then said: "There is no one in the island with tinted spectacles, and nobody in the least like that living anywhere near Dr. Rendall's." I looked at her sharply. "Are you quite sure?" She seemed to think again for a moment and then said: "Perfectly." I had something to think about on my way home to lunch. IX AN ALLY