Be warned, this is a tragic story caused by circumstances or coincidences that are beyond the control of the main character. It is an overview written in my own words with some quotes from the book that was published in 1874. This post is the beginning of a story that is sure to touch your hearts, it spans 4 sub books has 66 chapters and is 334 words long written in wordy old English.
(This is the photo cover of the book taken from my Kindle.)

In the prologue we meet 3 characters; 60 plus years Sir Richard Devine, his 40 year old wife Lady Ellinor Devine and their son, 22 year old Richard Devine. They have just returned from holidays. (It must have been an unhappy time for Sir Richard!)
Lord Richard is depicted as a harsh and cruel man who has bullied his wife for 22 years and was a harsh disciplinarian to his son, who on *"the evening of May 3, 1827" in a beautiful mansion called North End House angrily threatens shame on Ellinor, stating that he has always known that Richard is not his son. He claims that Ellinor's cousin Lord Bellasis is the father. He was not going to feed, clothe and tolerate the 'bastard' in his house any longer.
Ellinor pleads for for her good name, asking to be killed rather than shamed. Sir Richard who must have been very controlling says, "You would preserve your good name then. You would conceal this disgrace from the world. You shall have your wish - upon one condition." This imposter abandons the name he has usurped and never sets foot in this house again! (He certainly holds the power as the lord and master of his home and wealth.)
Sir Devine walks out of the house in a fit of extreme rage to arrange an appointment for his lawyer to change for the next day. He plans to leave his money to his sister's son Maurice Frere. Meanwhile the highly upset Ellinor clings to her son begging him not to leave. Richard tells her that he must go for her good name.
The young man leaves only in the clothes he is wearing. As he walks along he comes across Lord Belasis bludgeoned, bloody and near death. ( Lord Belasis, a gambler and party man was on the road to collect a debt owed to him by a young parson in a recent poker game. He told a fellow in the inn of this venture.)
Poor Richard could not believe that his father was dying in such a terrible way when a small group of men come along immediately jumping to the conclusion that Richard has killed him. The men were out searching for Lord Belasis as his horse had come back without him. They demand his name and this is when Richard Devine, well educated and well brought up becomes Rufus Dawes. He cannot tell them his real name for the sake of his mother.
Richard has no way of escape, he has to face the old bailey.

Richard begs for the men to wait, Lord Belasis is not quite dead and when he asks his father for the culprit who hit him, Lord Belasis points away from Richard and toward Sir Richard's home before he falls down dead. But then the men wrongly decide that the young man, Rufus Dawes must have robbed Lord Belasis as there was no money. (Of course he had not the chance to meet up with the parson before being clubbed!)
So off to the Old Bailey Rufus is dragged while old vicious Sir Richard falls into state of apoplexy not to recover.
(It must have been scary for an accused to watch this solemn judge hand out the punishment)
Rufus Dawes is charged and convicted of murder and robbery, there is no-one to testify for his innocence, no one to defend him. The evidence given by the men is totally circumstantial and untrue, but is enough in the judicious system in Britain in the 19th Century. His mother is completely in the dark thinking that he set sailed for India. Poor suffering Lady Ellinor Devine never learns of the fate of her son.
Instead of hanging Rufus Dawes's sentence is changed to transportation for a life sentence in the penal colony in Australia. He never learns that Sir Richard dies before the lawyer can change the will, he is now a very wealthy man. What a cruel twist of fate, if only Richard Devine had stayed the night with his mother.
Cheers and Blessings

(An artistic arrangement of lights in a restaurant in Hobart.)