John Dowell the narrator explains that he considers his tale "the saddest story" rather than "the Ashburnham Tragedy" because the participants slowly sink to their doom rather than being destroyed by one climactic event.
At age twenty-four, Leonora Ashburnham makes it her responsibility to rebuild the Ashburnham fortune. When Edward returns, ashamed, from Monte Carlo with an affectionate speech prepared for Leonora, she interrupts to ask if he wants her to take over the finances or go to ruin. Leonora arranges for Edward to join his regiment in Burma so they can rent out the house to earn cash. In Burma, Edward develops a romantic attachment to Mrs. Basil. He is blackmailed over this. Mr. Basil somehow finds out; Edward and Leonora leave Burma for Chitral.
Edward becomes smitten with the.....
