The Law and the Lady

Wilkie Collins (1824 - 1889)

Valeria Brinton marries Eustace Woodville despite objections from Woodville's family leading to disquiet for Valeria's own family and friends.

Just a few days after the wedding, various incidents lead Valeria to suspect her husband is hiding a dark secret in his past and she discovers that he has been using a false name. He refuses to discuss it leading them to curtail their honeymoon and return to London where Valeria learns that he was on trial for his first wife's murder by arsenic. He was tried in a Scottish court and the verdict was 'Not Proven' rather than 'not guilty' implying his guilt but without enough proof for a jury to convict him.

Valeria sets out to save their happiness by proving her husband innocent of the crime. In her quest, she comes across the disabled character Miserrimus Dexter, a fascinating but mentally unstable genius, and his devoted female cousin, Ariel. Dexter will prove crucial to uncovering the disturbing truth behind the mysterious death. (Introduction by Wikipedia)

Genre(s): Crime & Mystery Fiction

Language: English

Section Chapter Reader Time
Play 01 The Bride's Mistake Wiebke
00:11:55
Play 02 The Bride's Thoughts Wiebke
00:17:08
Play 03 Ramsgate Sands Wiebke
00:14:24
Play 04 On the Way Home Wiebke
00:13:50
Play 05 The Landlady's Discovery Wiebke
00:08:54
Play 06 My Own Discovery Wiebke
00:13:55
Play 07 On the Way to the Major Wiebke
00:16:07
Play 08 The Friend of the Women Wiebke
00:12:18
Play 09 The Defeat of the Major Wiebke
00:25:29
Play 10 The Search Wiebke
00:35:39
Play 11 The Return to Life Wiebke
00:15:34
Play 12 The Scotch Verdict Wiebke
00:13:11
Play 13 The Man's Decision Wiebke
00:09:50
Play 14 The Woman's Answer Wiebke
00:21:33
Play 15 The Story of the Trial. The Preliminaries Wiebke
00:05:04
Play 16 First Question - Did the Woman die Poisoned? Wiebke
00:29:40
Play 17 Second Question - Who poisoned Her? Wiebke
00:21:23
Play 18 Third Question - What was his Motive? Wiebke
00:29:04
Play 19 The Evidence for the Defense Wiebke
00:09:46
Play 20 The End of the Trial Wiebke
00:19:46
Play 21 I see my Way Wiebke
00:12:57
Play 22 The Major makes Difficulties Wiebke
00:12:03
Play 23 My Mother-in-Law surprises me Wiebke
00:12:08
Play 24 Miserrimus Dexter - first View Wiebke
00:13:58
Play 25 Miserrimus Dexter - second View Wiebke
00:24:14
Play 26 More of my Obstinacy Wiebke
00:11:59
Play 27 Mr. Dexter at Home Wiebke
00:20:16
Play 28 In the Dark Wiebke
00:12:03
Play 29 In the Light Wiebke
00:16:03
Play 30 The Indictment of Mrs. Beauly Wiebke
00:22:19
Play 31 The Defense of Mrs. Beauly Wiebke
00:14:44
Play 32 A Specimen of my Wisdom Wiebke
00:05:15
Play 33 A Specimen of my Folly Wiebke
00:24:49
Play 34 Gleninch Wiebke
00:12:22
Play 35 Mr. Playmore's Prophecy Wiebke
00:17:27
Play 36 Ariel Wiebke
00:11:02
Play 37 At the Bedside Wiebke
00:23:45
Play 38 On the Journey back Wiebke
00:04:50
Play 39 On the Way to Dexter Wiebke
00:12:23
Play 40 Nemesis at last Wiebke
00:50:44
Play 41 Mr. Playmore in a new Character Wiebke
00:18:16
Play 42 More Surprises Wiebke
00:12:43
Play 43 At last! Wiebke
00:07:23
Play 44 Our new Honeymoon Wiebke
00:11:48
Play 45 The Dust-Heap disturbed Wiebke
00:14:37
Play 46 The Crisis deferred Wiebke
00:08:35
Play 47 The Wife's Confession Wiebke
00:16:43
Play 48 What else could I do? Wiebke
00:08:10
Play 49 Past and Future Wiebke
00:14:09
Play 50 The last of the Story Wiebke
00:13:12