The protagonist/narrator, Edward Glyver, then takes the reader back, recounting as a confession his tale of deceit, love, and revenge. Glyver reveals the torment he has suffered at the hands of his rival, the poet-criminal Phoebus Rainsford Daunt, and why in pursuit of revenge Glyver (now masquerading as Edward Glapthorn), a book lover and scholar, has turned to murder.
The protagonist/narrator recounts his tale of deceit, love, and revenge, revealing the suffering inflicted by his rival, Phoebus Rainsford Daunt, and how this led him to murder as Edward Glapthorn, a book lover and scholar.