SECOND NARRATIVE

  Contributed by MATHEW BRUFF, Solicitor, of Gray's Inn Square

  CHAPTER I

  My fair friend, Miss Clack, having laid down the pen, there are tworeasons for my taking it up next, in my turn.

  In the first place, I am in a position to throw the necessary light oncertain points of interest which have thus far been left in the dark.Miss Verinder had her own private reason for breaking her marriageengagement--and I was at the bottom of it. Mr. Godfrey Ablewhite had hisown private reason for withdrawing all claim to the hand of his charmingcousin--and I discovered what it was.

  In the second place, it was my good or ill fortune, I hardly know which,to find myself personally involved--at the period of which I am nowwriting--in the mystery of the Indian Diamond. I had the honour of aninterview, at my own office, with an Oriental stranger of distinguishedmanners, who was no other, unquestionably, than the chief of the threeIndians. Add to this, that I met with the celebrated traveller, Mr.Murthwaite, the day afterwards, and that I held a conversation with himon the subject of the Moonstone, which has a very important bearing onlater events. And there you have the statement of my claims to fill theposition which I occupy in these pages.