‘To whom should I go to learn about the place?’
‘Well, there’s two authorities. Father Heslop and the Reverend Mr MacKay. On the whole perhaps Father Heslop would be better.’
‘You think he is the more knowledgeable?’
‘No; they’re about fifty-fifty as far as that goes. But two-thirds of the islanders are R.C. If you go to the priest you’ll only have a third of the population against you, instead of two-thirds. Of course the Presbyterian third are much nastier customers to be up against, but if numbers count with you then you’d better see Father Heslop. Better see Father Heslop anyway. I’m a heathen myself so I’m an outcast from both flocks, but Father Heslop is for a Licence and Mr MacKay dead against it.’ He grinned again and refilled Grant’s glass.
‘I take it the priest would rather see the stuff sold openly than drunk on the sly.’
‘That’s it.’
‘Did you ever have a visitor called Charles Martin staying here?’
‘Martin? No. Not in my time. But if you’d like to look through the visitors’ book it’s on the table in the lobby.’
‘If a visitor doesn’t stay at the hotel where would he be likely to stay? In rooms?’
‘No, no one lets rooms on the island. The houses are too small for that. They’d stay either with Father Heslop or at the manse.’