Summary

The narrator of the story sets out one day to visit the H.M.S. Peridot, however, when he arrives, he finds the ship has been sent up the coast. Realizing he is stranded until the afternoon train back to Cape Town arrives, the narrator is contemplating what to do when he has the good fortune of running into his friend, Inspector Hooper of Cape Government Railways. Hooper suggests to the narrator that he get some lunch and then the two men take a train car to Glengariff where they can spend the afternoon.

The narrator gets his lunch and the two men set out. When they reach the seaside town of Glengariff, they find the beach area crowded with people enjoying picnics. The two men settle down to their lunches and afterward, Hooper begins to look through some files he...