A mysterious death found near a small coastal quay triggers a methodical criminal investigation that unfolds through inquests, witness interviews, and the gradual assembly of physical clues. Local characters—boatmen, clergy, a pragmatic detective-sergeant, and various visitors—offer competing accounts and motives, steering investigators through misdirection and fresh evidence. The narrative follows the step-by-step reconstruction of events, the testing of rival theories, and the reconciliation of disparate testimonies, culminating in a final explanation that resolves the puzzling circumstances.