Miss Benson's Beetle

This summary section includes the chapters entitled “This Beautiful Isle”; “The Trouble Is That You Think You Have Time”; “Brisbane”; and “Time to Head North.”

Once the two women arrive in the city of Noumea on the island of New Caledonia, Margery is at a loss as to next steps. She needs to clear all sorts of bureaucratic red tape before the duo can travel northward. To complicate matters, some of Margery’s luggage hasn’t arrived yet. She is missing all the paraphernalia necessary to capture beetle specimens, and her clothing has also gone missing. Instead, she receives a look-alike bag filled with men’s apparel.

Enid grows restless because she can’t get any current news from England. She urges Margery to press on northward without her luggage or the proper paperwork. Enid also suspects that a mysterious stranger has been following her. When Margery insists that she can’t proceed without her bug collecting equipment, Enid says she’ll take care of the problem. She disappears for hours and returns that night with a complete set of the items that Margery needs. Margery is afraid to ask how Enid found them.

Meanwhile, Mundic waits in Brisbane, unable to find transport to New Caledonia.