Only 15-years-old, Eleanor Vane is very happy with her lot: educated in an expensive finishing school in Paris, the apple of her father's eye, and disposed to be kind. Of course there are things missing: she does not remember her mother who died when she was young. But at least she has her father... Until he unexpectedly dies. Now Eleanor is at the mercy of her half-siblings who were never in touch with her, and the rest of the world who would consider her an orphaned beggar. Sent to work as a lady's companion to an old friend of her late father's, Eleanor might, just might, be able to win a respectable place in society. This novel is also famous for being one of the first Victorian novels with a female detective. - Summary by Stav Nisser
Chapters
1 Vol.1. Ch.01. GOING HOME 20 min 2 Vol.1. Ch.02. THE ENTRESOL IN THE RUE DE L'ARCHEVÊQUE 26 min 3 Vol.1. Ch.03. THE STORY OF THE PAST 29 min 4 Vol.1. Ch.04. UPON THE THRESHOLD OF A GREAT SORROW 33 min 5 Vol.1. Ch.05. WAITING 26 min 6 Vol.1. Ch.06. THE BLACK BUILDING BY THE RIVER 16 min 7 Vol.1. Ch.07. SUSPENSE 17 min 8 Vol.1. Ch.08. GOOD SAMARITANS 34 min 9 Vol.1. Ch.09. LOOKING TO THE FUTURE 20 min 10 Vol.1. Ch.10. HORTENSIA BANNISTER HOLDS OUT A HELPING HAND 29 min 11 Vol.1. Ch.11. RICHARD THORNTON'S PROMISE 27 min 12 Vol.1. Ch.12. GILBERT MONCKTON 12 min 13 Vol.1. Ch.13. HAZLEWOOD 26 min 14 Vol.1. Ch.14. THE PRODIGAL'S RETURN 17 min 15 Vol.1. Ch.15. LAUNCELOT 18 min 16 Vol.1. Ch.16. THE LAWYER'S SUSPICION 11 min 17 Vol.1. Ch.17. THE SHADOW ON GILBERT MONCKTON'S LIFE 9 min 18 Vol.2. Ch.01. UNFORGOTTEN 23 min 19 Vol.2. Ch.02. LIKE THE MEMORY OF A DREAM 24 min 20 Vol.2. Ch.03. RECOGNITION 12 min 21 Vol.2. Ch.04. ON THE TRACK 16 min 22 Vol.2. Ch.05. IN THE SHIPBROKER'S OFFICE 22 min 23 Vol.2. Ch.06. RESOLVED 11 min 24 Vol.2. Ch.07. THE ONE CHANCE 27 min 25 Vol.2. Ch.08. ACCEPTED 20 min 26 Vol.2. Ch.09. AN INSIDIOUS DEMON 15 min 27 Vol.2. Ch.10. SLOW FIRES 24 min 28 Vol.2. Ch.11. BY THE SUNDIAL 11 min 29 Vol.2. Ch.12. KEEPING WATCH 14 min 30 Vol.2. Ch.13. AN OLD MAN'S FANCY 16 min 31 Vol.2. Ch.14. A POWERFUL ALLY 16 min 32 Vol.2. Ch.15. THE TESTIMONY OF THE SKETCH-BOOK 17 min 33 Vol.2. Ch.16. MAURICE DE CRESPIGNY'S WILL 16 min 34 Vol.2. Ch.17. RICHARD'S DISCOVERY 10 min 35 Vol.2. Ch.18. WHAT HAPPENED AT WINDSOR 12 min 36 Vol.2. Ch.19. ANOTHER RECOGNITION 16 min 37 Vol.2. Ch.20. LAUNCELOT'S TROUBLES 20 min 38 Vol.2. Ch.21. MR. MONCKTON BRINGS GLOOMY TIDINGS FROM WOODLANDS 11 min 39 Vol.2. Ch.22. LAUNCELOT'S COUNSELLOR 14 min 40 Vol.3. Ch.01. RESOLVED 19 min 41 Vol.3. Ch.02. A TERRIBLE SURPRISE 19 min 42 Vol.3. Ch.03. IN THE PRESENCE OF THE DEAD 15 min 43 Vol.3. Ch.04. A BRIEF TRIUMPH 18 min 44 Vol.3. Ch.05. LOST 13 min 45 Vol.3. Ch.06. AT SEA 17 min 46 Vol.3. Ch.07. LAURA'S TROUBLES 18 min 47 Vol.3. Ch.08. GETTING OVER IT 15 min 48 Vol.3. Ch.09. THE READING OF THE WILL 18 min 49 Vol.3. Ch.10. DESERTED 15 min 50 Vol.3. Ch.11. GILBERT'S LETTER 22 min 51 Vol.3. Ch.12. MRS. MAJOR LENNARD 14 min 52 Vol.3. Ch.13. GOING BACK TO PARIS 18 min 53 Vol.3. Ch.14. MARGARET LENNARD'S DELINQUENCIES 34 min 54 Vol.3. Ch.16. VICTOR BOURDON GOES OVER TO THE ENEMY 24 min 55 Vol.3. Ch.15. VERY LONELY 10 min 56 Vol.3. Ch.17. THE HORRORS OF DELIRIUM TREMENS 26 min 57 Vol.3. Ch.18. MAURICE DE CRESPIGNY'S BEQUEST 11 min 58 Vol.3. Ch.19. THE DAY OF RECKONING 24 min 59 Vol.3. Ch.20. THE LAST 6 min
