Mary begins to settle into her new life at Jamaica Inn. She resolves to stay there until she can bring Joss to justice—she has no doubt that Joss and the stranger committed murder. Moreover, she will not abandon Aunt Patience.

One day, when Mary enters the bar, she finds a stranger helping himself to alcohol. Mary confronts him, indignant at the man’s attitude. The stranger is suspiciously familiar; Mary soon finds out that it is Jem, Joss’s brother. Aunt Patience had warned Mary that Jem was the worst of the Merlyns.

Mary returns to her room, flustered by the encounter. Jem gets her attention by throwing rocks at her window until she opens it. He apologizes for his conduct at the bar. He reintroduces himself. He is a horse thief by trade, and Mary cannot help but be charmed by his honest description of his dishonest profession. Mary finds him likable in spite of her misgivings. Jem gravely warns Mary that she should leave Jamaica Inn—it is no place for a young woman. Mary refuses. Jem tells her to suit herself, and he leaves.