It was on the seventh of November, the anniversary of my birthday, a
circumstance which would alone suffice to imprint the date on my memory
were I at all disposed to forget it. But that is not very likely.
No, I can assure you.
It would be impossible for me to do that, as you will readily believe
when you come to know my story; for, on this eventful evening there
happened something which, somehow or other, thenceforth, whether owing
to what visionary folk term "Destiny," or from its arising through some
curious conjuncture of things beyond the limits of mere chance, appeared
to exercise a mysterious influence on my life, affecting the whole tenor
and course of my subsequent career.
I had better tell you, however, what occurred, and then you will be able
to judge for yourself.