# The Pit-Prop Syndicate — Chapters explained

> Chapter companions for The Pit-Prop Syndicate by Freeman Wills Crofts.

- [Part I: The Amateurs](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_prop_syndicate_se/chapters/part-i-the-amateurs.md): The chapter introduces the amateur investigators Merriman and Hilliard as they embark on a cruise to Bordeaux, encounter Madeleine Coburn, inspect the Girondin, and begin uncovering a smuggling operation involving hollow
- [The Sawmill on the Lesque](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_prop_syndicate_se/chapters/i-the-sawmill-on-the-lesque.md): Seymour Merriman, a wine merchant on a business trip through France, stops to rest by a bridge and notices a motor lorry with an English nameplate. After his bicycle develops a petrol leak, he follows the lorry into a fo
- [An Interesting Suggestion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_prop_syndicate_se/chapters/ii-an-interesting-suggestion.md): Merriman and Hilliard discuss the mysterious lorry number plate change and the suspicious behavior of the driver and manager at the sawmill. Hilliard proposes a joint holiday cruise to Bordeaux via the Garonne, ostensibl
- [The Start of the Cruise](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_prop_syndicate_se/chapters/iii-the-start-of-the-cruise.md): Seymour Merriman travels from London to Bordeaux to begin a cruise with his friend Claud Hilliard. During the journey, he reflects on the trip and on Hilliard's suspicions about smuggling involving the Coburns. After mee
- [A Commercial Proposition](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_prop_syndicate_se/chapters/iv-a-commercial-proposition.md): Merriman and Hilliard dine with the Coburns, where they notice tension and a shared secret between father and daughter. Hilliard proposes spying on the loading of their steamer. The next day, they observe the Coburns and

> 18 more chapter companions — [open a free preview](https://www.betterreads.dev/reader?bookId=the_pit_prop_syndicate_se_1644kb&preview=1) to unlock the rest.

- [The Visit of the Girondin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_prop_syndicate_se/chapters/v-the-visit-of-the-girondin.md)
- [A Change of Venue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_prop_syndicate_se/chapters/vi-a-change-of-venue.md)
- [VII: The Ferriby Depot](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_prop_syndicate_se/chapters/vii-the-ferriby-depot.md)
- [The Unloading of the Girondin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_prop_syndicate_se/chapters/viii-the-unloading-of-the-girondin.md)
- [IX: The Second Cargo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_prop_syndicate_se/chapters/ix-the-second-cargo.md)
- [X: Merriman Becomes Desperate](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_prop_syndicate_se/chapters/x-merriman-becomes-desperate.md)
- [An Unexpected Ally](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_prop_syndicate_se/chapters/xi-an-unexpected-ally.md)
- [Part II: The Professionals](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_prop_syndicate_se/chapters/part-ii-the-professionals.md)
- [XII: Murder!](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_prop_syndicate_se/chapters/xii-murder.md)
- [A Promising Clue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_prop_syndicate_se/chapters/xiii-a-promising-clue.md)
- [XIV: A Mystifying Discovery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_prop_syndicate_se/chapters/xiv-a-mystifying-discovery.md)
- [XV: Inspector Willis Listens In](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_prop_syndicate_se/chapters/xv-inspector-willis-listens-in.md)
- [The Secret of the Syndicate](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_prop_syndicate_se/chapters/xvi-the-secret-of-the-syndicate.md)
- [Archer Plants Stuff](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_prop_syndicate_se/chapters/xvii-archer-plants-stuff.md)
- [The Bordeaux Lorries](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_prop_syndicate_se/chapters/xviii-the-bordeaux-lorries.md)
- [XIX: Willis Spreads His Net](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_prop_syndicate_se/chapters/xix-willis-spreads-his-net.md)
- [XX: The Double Cross](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_prop_syndicate_se/chapters/xx-the-double-cross.md)
- [List of Illustrations](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_prop_syndicate_se/chapters/list-of-illustrations.md)

HTML index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_prop_syndicate_se/chapters