The librarian at Yale finds that a Bournemouth University staff member has published a paper about Thomas Hardy that is identical with one already published by a Yale professor. The professor's fiance asks Southern Enquiries to investigate. The staff member and a colleague die in mysterious circumstances and this draws attention to a house agent who owns a charter yacht. Southern Enquiries find that the yacht carries more than charter passengers on Channel trips. The captain of the yacht is killed. The estate agent tells Mr Big of his idea to kidnap the Hawkridge baby daughter. The child is kidnapped and the Irregulars risk their lives to rescue her.