Plot
The disreputable but wealthy old Lord Lovel
married Josephine Murray, but later disowned her and her daughter, claiming
that he had another wife at the time of their marriage. Without funds, but befriended
by a tailor who had become interested in the case, his wife sued him for
bigamy, and although he was acquitted, a cloud was left on her right to the
title. The old Earl returned to Italy
and for twenty years the tailor supported the wife and her daughter Anna.
Returning to England
with a new mistress, Lord Lovel soon died, leaving
his entire estate to the woman. The heir to the title claimed the estate, and
attempted to prove by law that the Italian mistress had no right to it, and
that the Countess had no right to her title. The courts upheld his contention
as to the estate, but the case was so complicated by the claim of yet another
woman calling herself the first wife that clear proof
seemed impossible to obtain. Lawyers were sent to Italy, and were convinced that the
woman was a fraud, but the story was too old to he proven conclusively. As a
compromise, they suggested that the young Earl and Lady Anna should marry. The
Earl agreed and, after meeting Anna, offered not only his hand, but his heart.
Anna, however, had already promised herself to Daniel Thwaite,
son of the tailor. Lady Lovel, despite her obligation, was indignant at this
misalliance, but not even virtual imprisonment by her mother was enough to
shake Lady Anna's determination to keep her word. Finally, in desperation, the
Countess invited Daniel to a conference and when he appeared tried to murder
him. He was only slightly injured, but she was afraid to oppose their marriage
further. When the courts awarded the fortune to Lady Anna, she deeded a large
part of her wealth to the young Earl, and with the remainder she and her
husband emigrated to Sydney.
GEROULD,
WINIFRED GREGORY;
A GUIDE TO TROLLOPE.
© 1948 Princeton University Press,
1976 renewed PUP
Reprinted by permission of Princeton
University Press.
Url: http://www.anthonytrollope.com/
Academic year 2008/2009
© a.r.e.a./Dr.Vicente Forés
López
©Davinia Moreno Arroyo
Universitat de Valčncia
Press
damoa2@alumni.uv.es