After Dark Prologue to the First Story

In which a humble portrait-painter, accustomed to traversing the varied social landscapes of Britain and Ireland, sets down the curious manner in which he gathers the tales of his sitters—often by chance, and with patient observation. He recounts an encounter in Liverpool with a young traveller, whose earnest wish for an unvarnished likeness leads to the unveiling of a captivating story, promising a narrative both engaging and true to life.