# Philip Rendall — The Man from the Clouds character guide

> Philip Rendall in The Man from the Clouds by J. Storer Clouston.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Mr. Rendall, Philip

**First appearance:** 0004-v-the-doctor-s-house

## Snapshot

The laird of an old island family, close as a clam about his years abroad and quietly hard up, a man to be watched.

## Who they are

Mr. Rendall owns the weather-beaten big house and an ancient name, but he has lived much abroad and offers no hint whether for pleasure, health, or business, while rumour says his purse is thin and his manner caustic. He lends his guest a felt hat and walks him to the kirk, yet keeps his thoughts entirely to himself, leaving Sylvester to weigh old family prestige against the prima facie case for suspicion. As host and laird, he controls the social ground on which the spy must operate, and his silence is one of the story's most unnerving features.

## Relationships

### [Jean Rendall](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_from_the_clouds_se/characters/jean_rendall)

_family_

Jean and Philip are siblings, with Jean protective of her younger brother.

### [Jean Rendall](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_from_the_clouds_se/characters/jean_rendall)

_family_

Jean and Philip are siblings, with Jean protective of her younger brother.

## In the story

### [The Suspicious Stranger](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_from_the_clouds_se/chapters/iv-the-suspicious-stranger)

The laird of the island, mentioned as the owner of the farm and the person the protagonist plans to visit in hopes of finding an ally.

### [V: The Doctor's House](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_from_the_clouds_se/chapters/v-the-doctor-s-house)

Mentioned as the laird of the island and Dr. Rendall's cousin, though he does not appear in the chapter.

### [VIII: Sunday](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_from_the_clouds_se/chapters/viii-sunday)

The laird; walks with the minister after church; remains inaccessible and suspicious to narrator.

### [The Test](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_from_the_clouds_se/chapters/iv-the-test)

The laird, he greets Mr. Hobhouse with dry courtesy and engages him in friendly conversation about antiquarian research, impressing Hobhouse favorably.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_from_the_clouds_se/characters/philip_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