CHAPTER VIII. 



j|O one observant of the foibles of his 

 fellows, perhaps there are few places 

 more favourable than a well-fre- 

 quented hotel, in a retired part of the country. 

 Rarely with more than one room for the guests 

 to assemble in at meal-time, let some try to 

 be as exclusive as possible, they cannot fail 

 of betraying their little peculiarities in un- 

 guarded moments. 



In sojourning at an hotel of this kind not 

 many miles from Oban in Argyleshire, each 

 day brought under my notice fresh visitors, as 

 dissimilar in social position, as in form and 

 feature. Though a solitary sort of bird by 

 choice, when handling a salmon-rod, I am far 



