At Sunwich Port, Part 5. Contents: Chapters 21-25

In the bustling little town of Sunwich Port, Captain Nugent finds his thoughts pulled between his son’s forthcoming wedding and the increasingly strange visits of the young and unabashed Jem Hardy. The captain, uneasy yet courteous, watches Hardy probe for hidden motives while a faded photograph of Miss Nugent sits inexplicably on the mantelpiece, hinting at secrets that the household would rather keep out of the light. As the wedding preparations loom, Nicholson’s hospitality is tested by whispers and half‑spoken doubts, setting a tense backdrop for the next encounter.

The arrival of the measured yet sharp‑tongued Dr. Murchison adds a new layer to the intrigue. Over casual conversation, the three men trade oblique references to old acquaintances whose fates have already turned grim, and the captain senses a rivalry brewing between the visitor and the doctor. Their polite exchanges mask a deeper contest of information, leaving listeners wondering what hidden motives lie beneath the courteous façade.