The Moonstone Second Period, Second Narrative, Chapters I–III Summary & Analysis

Summary

Second Period, Second Narrative, Chapter I

Mr. Bruff, the Verinder family lawyer, takes up the next narrative to fill in some gaps of Miss Clack's narrative. Mr. Bruff first tells the story of Rachel's broken engagement to Godfrey. First, he gives some Verinder family history: Sir John Verinder had Mr. Bruff execute his will which left all Sir John's money to his wife, Lady Verinder, whom he trusted very much. Lady Verinder drew up her will after Sir John died and left her estate to Rachel. Lady Verinder revised her will several days before her death—she appointed a guardian for Rachel.

Several weeks after these changes were drawn up, Mr. Bruff heard from a friend that Lady Verinder's will had been asked for at the "Doctor's Commons" (where all wills can be viewed for a fee). Mr. Bruff then traced the lawyer who had asked for the will to his client—Godfrey Ablewhite.

Then Mr. Bruff heard about the marriage proposal between Godfrey and Rachel, and he realized that Godfrey's proposal was mercenary. Mr. Bruff resolved to go to Brighton and tell Rachel of Godfrey's probable intent, especially after seeing Rachel to be indifferent about her marriage plans. Rachel agrees she will break the engagement. Mr. Bruff suggests that she let Godfrey know she is aware of his mercenary intent, but Rachel refuses, as it would bring shame on herself for agreeing to marry a deceitful man in the first place.

Mr. Bruff returned to London and received a visit from Mr. Ablewhite, senior, who informed him of Godfrey's acceptance of the broken engagement. Mr. Ablewhite is so angry that Mr. Bruff has resolved to return to Brighton to shield Rachel from his anger. After that scene (described by Miss Clack in Chapter VIII of the First Narrative), Rachel came to stay with Mr. Bruff and his wife and daughters, who welcomed her like family.

Second Period, Second Narrative, Chapter II

A week after Rachel leaves the Bruff household, Mr. Bruff receives a dark- complected visitor at work who had a card from Septimus Luker recommending him. Mr. Bruff suspects that the visitor was one of the three Indians. The Indian asks to borrow money from Mr. Bruff and produced a jeweled box as collateral. The Indian is polite, but Mr. Bruff denies him a loan. Before leaving, the Indian asks within how long it is customary to repay a loan, and Mr. Bruff tells him a year. Mr. Bruff has the sense that this question was the only reason for the Indian's visit.

Next Septimus Luker asks Mr. Bruff for an interview. Mr. Luker reports that the Indian had visited him, too, and asked precisely the same questions. Mr. Luker had, in a moment of fear, recommended Mr. Bruff as a solicitor who could lend money to the Indian.

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