# Dr. Rendall — The Man from the Clouds character guide > Dr. Rendall in The Man from the Clouds by J. Storer Clouston. **Role:** major **Also known as:** the doctor, doctor **First appearance:** 0004-v-the-doctor-s-house ## Snapshot A well-bred, tight-lipped laird who has lived abroad for reasons he never explains, and whose caustic reserve makes him the island's most watchable man. ## Who they are Dr. Rendall belongs to an old Ransay family fallen on hard times, a man of evident intelligence who deflects every question about his years overseas with the finality of a closed door. He warms only in flashes — a vein of kindliness beneath the grimness — and his daughter's loyalty to him is absolute. Hobhouse marks him early as a man to be watched, and the doctor's silences and unaccounted travels keep suspicion alive through the middle of the story. ## Relationships ### [Thomas Sylvester Hobhouse](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_from_the_clouds_se/characters/thomas_sylvester_hobhouse) _professional_ Dr. Rendall and Hobhouse are deeply entangled in a professional relationship, likely involving scientific or academic collaboration with underlying tension. ### [Jean Rendall](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_from_the_clouds_se/characters/jean_rendall) _family_ Dr. Rendall is Jean's father, and their relationship is protective yet strained by his secretive work. ### [Jack Whiteclett](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_from_the_clouds_se/characters/jack_whiteclett) _professional_ Dr. Rendall and Jack have a professional relationship, with Dr. Rendall viewing Jack as a subordinate and potential threat. ### [Uncle Francis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_from_the_clouds_se/characters/uncle_francis) _rivalry_ Dr. Rendall and Uncle Francis are rivals, each suspicious of the other's motives and working at cross-purposes. ### [Roger Merton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_from_the_clouds_se/characters/roger_merton) _rivalry_ Dr. Rendall and Roger are rivals, with Roger suspecting Dr. Rendall of wrongdoing and Dr. Rendall trying to outmaneuver him. ### [Mr. Bolton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_from_the_clouds_se/characters/mr_bolton) _professional_ Dr. Rendall and Mr. Bolton have a professional relationship, with Bolton acting as a go-between and informant. ### [Thomas Sylvester Hobhouse](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_from_the_clouds_se/characters/thomas_sylvester_hobhouse) _professional_ Dr. Rendall and Hobhouse are deeply entangled in a professional relationship, likely involving scientific or academic collaboration with underlying tension. ### [Jack Whiteclett](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_from_the_clouds_se/characters/jack_whiteclett) _professional_ Dr. Rendall and Jack have a professional relationship, with Dr. Rendall viewing Jack as a subordinate and potential threat. ### [Uncle Francis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_from_the_clouds_se/characters/uncle_francis) _rivalry_ Dr. Rendall and Uncle Francis are rivals, each suspicious of the other's motives and working at cross-purposes. ### [Mr. Bolton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_from_the_clouds_se/characters/mr_bolton) _professional_ Dr. Rendall and Mr. Bolton have a professional relationship, with Bolton acting as a go-between and informant. ### [Mr. Bolton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_from_the_clouds_se/characters/mr_bolton) _professional_ Dr. Rendall and Mr. Bolton have a professional relationship, with Bolton acting as a go-between and informant. ### [Jean Rendall](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_from_the_clouds_se/characters/jean_rendall) _family_ Dr. Rendall is Jean's father, and their relationship is protective yet strained by his secretive work. ## In the story ### [V: The Doctor's House](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_from_the_clouds_se/chapters/v-the-doctor-s-house) Receives Thomas with suspicion and apprehension. His study blind was pulled down earlier, hinting at hidden activities. ### [VI: A Petticoat](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_from_the_clouds_se/chapters/vi-a-petticoat) Considered as a potential suspect; the narrator plans to visit him. ### [VIII: Sunday](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_from_the_clouds_se/chapters/viii-sunday) Absent from church; narrator suspects him due to his secrecy and past abroad. ### [X: The Coast Patrol](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_from_the_clouds_se/chapters/x-the-coast-patrol) Patrols the north end; appears suddenly; silent and watchful. ### [A Near Thing](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_from_the_clouds_se/chapters/xi-a-near-thing) The host who is staying in bed after his night's vigil. His presence near the scene of the attack is a source of suspicion for the narrator. ### [The Key Turned](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_from_the_clouds_se/chapters/xii-the-key-turned) Sent the urgent wire that brought Commander Whiteclett to Ransay. ### [On the Drifter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_from_the_clouds_se/chapters/xiii-on-the-drifter) His suspicious behavior is explained away as innocent by Whiteclett. ### [XIV: My Cousin's Letter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_from_the_clouds_se/chapters/xiv-my-cousin-s-letter) Mentioned as another possible German speaker, but is also ruled out due to his height. His house is the site of the blind incident that Merton finds significant. ### [I: An Idea](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_from_the_clouds_se/chapters/i-an-idea) Mentioned as having requested permission to take an alcoholic patient, raising suspicion. ### [III: The Alcoholic Patient](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_from_the_clouds_se/chapters/iii-the-alcoholic-patient) Hosts Hobhouse as a paying guest. Shows a distinct dislike for his former patient O'Brien and appears to have no suspicion of Hobhouse's true identity. ### [The Test](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_from_the_clouds_se/chapters/iv-the-test) He proposes the walk to his cousin's house and later tells Mr. Hobhouse the story of the mysterious stranger, showing his own good faith and his frustration with the secrecy of the navy. ### [V: Waiting](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_from_the_clouds_se/chapters/v-waiting) Approves of Hobhouse's hobby as a counter to alcoholism. His moody and furtive behavior at night revives Hobhouse's suspicions. ### [VI: The Spectacled Man](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_from_the_clouds_se/chapters/vi-the-spectacled-man) Hosts the dinner and introduces Commander Whiteclett to Hobhouse. ### [A Reminiscence](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_from_the_clouds_se/chapters/vii-a-reminiscence) He is mentioned as the source of information about Mr. O'Brien and the story of the mysterious man. He is present at the house for tea but is not a central figure in this chapter. ### [VIII: H.M.S. Uruguay](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_from_the_clouds_se/chapters/viii-h-m-s-uruguay) Hosts Mr. Hobhouse; discusses the ship's visit and reacts to the explosion with controlled emotion. ### [IX: Bolton on the Teack](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_from_the_clouds_se/chapters/ix-bolton-on-the-teack) Hosts Merton and introduces him to Bolton, later curious about the detective's long conversation. ### [X: Where the Clue Led](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_from_the_clouds_se/chapters/x-where-the-clue-led) Informs Thomas of Bolton's murder. ### [An Eye-Opener](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_from_the_clouds_se/chapters/xi-an-eye-opener) Dr. Rendall informs the protagonist of Bolton's murder, expressing his distress. He later leaves the house, allowing Jean to speak with the protagonist alone. ### [XV: Part of the Truth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_from_the_clouds_se/chapters/xv-part-of-the-truth) Confesses to being blackmailed by O'Brien over his secret drinking, but denies any treason. ### [XVI: Tracked Down](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_from_the_clouds_se/chapters/xvi-tracked-down) Accompanies the group, helps pin down the captured man, and expresses trust in Jean. ### [XVII: The Rest of the Truth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_from_the_clouds_se/chapters/xvii-the-rest-of-the-truth) Guards Jock, reveals Jock's true identity. ### [XIX: Our Morning Call](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_from_the_clouds_se/chapters/xix-our-morning-call) Helps the narrator remove his disguise and tactfully leaves the narrator and Uncle Francis alone. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_from_the_clouds_se/characters/dr_rendall - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_from_the_clouds_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_from_the_clouds_se/characters