1848 The events related by Gabriel Beteridge,

house-duored in the service of Julia, Lady Verinder.

Chapter 1

In the first part of Robinson Crusoe at page 129, you will find it thus written.

Now I saw, though too late, the folly of beginning a work before we count the cost, and before

we judge rightly of our own strength to go through with it.

Only yesterday I opened my Robinson Crusoe at that place.

Only this morning, May 21st, 1800 and 50, came my lady's nephew, Mr. Franklin Blake,

and held a short conversation with me as follows.

Beteridge says Mr. Franklin, I have been to the lawyers about some family matters and

among other things.

We've been talking of the loss of the Indian diamond in my aunt's house in Yorkshire

two years since.

Mr. Brough thinks as I think that the whole story ought, in the interests of truth, to be

placed on record in writing, and the sooner the better.

Not perceiving his drift yet and thinking it always desirable for the sake of peace and

quietness to be on the lawyer's side, I said I thought so too.

Mr. Franklin went on.

In this matter of the diamond, he said, the characters of innocent people have suffered

under suspicion already, as you know, the memories of innocent people may suffer hereafter

for one of a record of the facts to which those who come after us can appeal.

There can be no doubt that this strange family story of ours ought to be told, and I think

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