# The Trail of the Serpent — Chapters explained

> Chapter companions for The Trail of the Serpent by M. E. Braddon.

- [Book I: A Respectable Young Man](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/book-i-a-respectable-young-man.md): The chapter introduces a young man who appears to be a model of respectability, though hints of deception and duality begin to emerge as his true nature is questioned.
- [The Good Schoolmaster](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/i-the-good-schoolmaster.md): The chapter introduces Jabez North, a foundling rescued from the Sloshy river and raised by the town of Slopperton. Now an assistant schoolmaster at Dr. Tappenden's academy, he is outwardly pious and meek, but the narrat
- [Good for Nothing](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/ii-good-for-nothing.md): On a dark November night, Richard Marwood returns to his mother's home, the Black Mill, after seven years of dissipation. He is welcomed by his mother and his wealthy uncle, Montague Harding, who offers him a chance at r
- [The Usher Washes His Hands](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/iii-the-usher-washes-his-hands.md): Jabez North, the usher at Dr. Tappenden's school, prepares a rope and climbs out of his window in the middle of the night while a sick boy is delirious in his room. He returns three hours later, frustrated and with a dar
- [IV: Richard Marwood Lights His Pipe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/iv-richard-marwood-lights-his-pipe.md): Richard Marwood, known as Daredevil Dick, leaves his mother's house early in the morning, lights his pipe, and heads to the Slopperton railway station. He travels to Gardenford, where he is arrested by Mr. Jinks and a si

> 48 more chapter companions — [open a free preview](https://www.betterreads.dev/reader?bookId=the_trail_of_the_serpent_se_1595kb&preview=1) to unlock the rest.

- [V: The Healing Waters](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/v-the-healing-waters.md)
- [VI: Two Coroner’s Inquests](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/vi-two-coroner-s-inquests.md)
- [The Dumb Detective a Philanthropist](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/vii-the-dumb-detective-a-philanthropist.md)
- [Seven Letters on the Dirty Alphabet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/viii-seven-letters-on-the-dirty-alphabet.md)
- [IX: “Mad, Gentlemen of the Jury”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/ix-mad-gentlemen-of-the-jury.md)
- [Book II: A Clearance of All Scores](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/book-ii-a-clearance-of-all-scores.md)
- [I: Blind Peter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/i-blind-peter.md)
- [Like and Unlike](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/ii-like-and-unlike.md)
- [A Golden Secret](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/iii-a-golden-secret.md)
- [IV: Jim Looks Over the Brink of the Terrible Gulf](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/iv-jim-looks-over-the-brink-of-the-terrible-gulf.md)
- [Midnight by the Slopperton Clocks](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/v-midnight-by-the-slopperton-clocks.md)
- [VI: The Quiet Figure on the Heath](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/vi-the-quiet-figure-on-the-heath.md)
- [The Usher Resigns His Situation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/vii-the-usher-resigns-his-situation.md)
- [Book III: Holy Institution](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/book-iii-holy-institution.md)
- [I: The Value of an Opera-Glass](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/i-the-value-of-an-opera-glass.md)
- [Working in the Dark](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/ii-working-in-the-dark.md)
- [III: The Wrong Footstep](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/iii-the-wrong-footstep.md)
- [IV: Ocular Demonstration](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/iv-ocular-demonstration.md)
- [V: The King of Spades](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/v-the-king-of-spades.md)
- [VI: A Glass of Wine](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/vi-a-glass-of-wine.md)
- [VII: The Last Act of Lucretia Borgia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/vii-the-last-act-of-lucretia-borgia.md)
- [Bad Dreams and a Worse Waking](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/viii-bad-dreams-and-a-worse-waking.md)
- [IX: A Marriage in High Life](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/ix-a-marriage-in-high-life.md)
- [X: Animal Magnetism](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/x-animal-magnetism.md)
- [I: The Boy from Slopperton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/i-the-boy-from-slopperton.md)
- [Mr. Augustus Darley and Mr. Joseph Peters Go Out Fishing](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/ii-mr-augustus-darley-and-mr-joseph-peters-go-out-fishing.md)
- [III: The Emperor Bids Adieu to Elba](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/iii-the-emperor-bids-adieu-to-elba.md)
- [Joy and Happiness for Everybody](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/iv-joy-and-happiness-for-everybody.md)
- [V: The Cherokees Take an Oath](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/v-the-cherokees-take-an-oath.md)
- [Mr. Peters Relates How He Thought He Had a Clue, and How He Lost It](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/vi-mr-peters-relates-how-he-thought-he-had-a-clue-and-how-he-lost-it.md)
- [Book V: The Dumb Detective](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/book-v-the-dumb-detective.md)
- [The Count de Marolles at Home](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/i-the-count-de-marolles-at-home.md)
- [II: Mr. Peters Sees a Ghost](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/ii-mr-peters-sees-a-ghost.md)
- [III: The Cherokees Mark Their Man](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/iii-the-cherokees-mark-their-man.md)
- [IV: The Captain, the Chemist, and the Lascar](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/iv-the-captain-the-chemist-and-the-lascar.md)
- [The New Milkman in Park Lane](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/v-the-new-milkman-in-park-lane.md)
- [VI: Signor Mosquetti Relates an Adventure](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/vi-signor-mosquetti-relates-an-adventure.md)
- [VII: The Golden Secret Is Told, and the Golden Bowl Is Broken](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/vii-the-golden-secret-is-told-and-the-golden-bowl-is-broken.md)
- [One Step Further on the Right Track](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/viii-one-step-further-on-the-right-track.md)
- [IX: Captain Lansdown Overhears a Conversation Which Appears to Interest Him](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/ix-captain-lansdown-overhears-a-conversation-which-appears-to-interest-him.md)
- [Book VI: On the Track](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/book-vi-on-the-track.md)
- [I: Father and Son](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/i-father-and-son.md)
- [Raymond de Marolles Shows Himself Better Than All Bow Street](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/ii-raymond-de-marolles-shows-himself-better-than-all-bow-street.md)
- [The Left-Handed Smasher Makes His Mark](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/iii-the-left-handed-smasher-makes-his-mark.md)
- [IV: What They Find in the Room in Which the Murder Was Committed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/iv-what-they-find-in-the-room-in-which-the-murder-was-committed.md)
- [Mr. Peters Decides on a Strange Step, and Arrests the Dead](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/v-mr-peters-decides-on-a-strange-step-and-arrests-the-dead.md)
- [VI: The End of the Dark Road](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/vi-the-end-of-the-dark-road.md)
- [Farewell to England](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/vii-farewell-to-england.md)

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