The book begins with genealogy charts of the York and Tudor royal families. An old proverb follows that gives the book its title: “Truth is the daughter of time” (10).

Inspector Alan Grant of Scotland Yard is lying in a hospital bed recovering from an injury. While chasing a criminal, Grant fell through a trap door and broke his leg. He’s now immobilized while his injuries mend and is chafing at his inactivity.

Two nurses attend him during his recuperation. Nurse Ingham, whom he calls “The Midget,” is very bossy despite her small size. Her brisk efficiency annoys Grant. He notes that “[s]he tossed mattresses around with the absent-minded grace of a plate spinner” (12). His other attendant is Nurse Darroll. He dubs her “The Amazon” because she has “arms like the limb of a beech tree” (12).

Well-meaning friends have sent Grant a stack of the latest novels. After skimming their contents briefly, he dismisses them all as uninteresting. His friend Marta Hallard drops by for a visit. Marta is a stage actress and occasionally uses Grant as her escort to various social functions. She’s concerned about his mental attitude.

Grant complains that he’s suffering from terminal boredom, which he says is “like being beaten with nettles” (16).