Add to this, that I met with the celebrated traveller, Mr.
Murthwaite, the day afterwards, and that I held a conversation with him
on the subject of the Moonstone, which has a very important bearing on
later events. And there you have the statement of my claims to fill the
position which I occupy in these pages.
The true story of the broken marriage engagement comes first in point of
time, and must therefore take the first place in the present narrative.
Tracing my way back along the chain of events, from one end to the
other, I find it necessary to open the scene, oddly enough as you will
think, at the bedside of my excellent client and friend, the late Sir
John Verinder.
Sir John had his share--perhaps rather a large share--of the more
harmless and amiable of the weaknesses incidental to humanity. Among
these, I may mention as applicable to the matter in hand, an invincible
reluctance--so long as he enjoyed his usual good health--to face the
responsibility of making his will. Lady Verinder exerted her influence
to rouse him to a sense of duty in this matter; and I exerted my
influence. He admitted the justice of our views--but he went no further
than that, until he found himself afflicted with the illness which
ultimately brought him to his grave.
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