As the story’s first narrator,
Betteredge explains, he is also assigned to be its last. He has nothing to say about
the Moonstone, but only about
Rachel and
Franklin’s marriage, which took place in
Yorkshire only a few months after their reconciliation. Apologetically, Betteredge admits that he had “a drop too much” during the ceremony, and then turned to
Robinson Crusoe, which prophetically opened to a passage about the narrator’s wife and child. A year later, in November, 1850 (at which time Betteredge writes), the family finally receives news of Rachel’s pregnancy. Of course, when Franklin comes to inform him, Betteredge already knows what he will say, thanks to
Robinson Crusoe. He asks if Franklin finally “believe[s] in
Robinson Crusoe,” and Franklin declares that he is “convinced at last.” Betteredge asks the reader to take
Robinson Crusoe seriously and declares he “make[s his] bow, and shut[s] up the story.”