In this, the third of the “Palliser” novels,
the focus of attention is Lady Elizabeth Eustace, “Lizzie” to her friends, who
are few and diminishing. She is young, clever and attractive, which helped her
make the advantageous match with the hard-living Lord Eustace for whom she rapidly
produced an heir before being predictably, and non-too sorrowfully, made a
widow; thus adding rich and available to her already considerable charms.
As for the diamonds, they constitute a fabulous
necklace in the possession of Lady Eustace – but are they hers or do they
belong to the estate, held in trust for the heir? She claims her husband gave
them to her to keep; the estate solicitor says prove it, and in the meantime
hand them over. For Lizzie, possession is ten tenths of the law and she holds
them close.
The dispute divides society opinion and
provides complications for Lizzie as she casts her net for a fresh husband. First
choice is her cousin Frank Greystock but, while he supports her claim to the
necklace and could do with her money, he is otherwise engaged to the sweet but
penniless Lucy Morris. Second choice, Lord Fawn, is initially keen but then
unwilling to be compromised by the dispute. Others hover on the fringes, both
fascinated and worried by the dangerously feisty widow.
Around the central bone of contention Trollope
weaves his usual narrative of social niceties, gossip and innuendo, spiced up
here and there with larceny as the criminal fraternity get wind that the
diamonds are being hauled around the country in a strongbox as part of Lizzie’s
entourage. Other side plots abound to give variety and light relief,
particularly Lizzie’s relations with Mrs Carbuncle, symbiotic to begin but increasingly
acrimonious.
Perhaps longer than necessary, it remains a
pleasant read provided you have the time to enjoy the unhurried prose. What
drive the reader on are the questions – who will end up with the diamonds and
who will end up with Lizzie?
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