Prince Fortunatus

The theatre curtain has barely fallen when Lady Adela Cunyngham and Lord Rockminster step backstage to meet Lionel Moore and Miss Burgoyne. Adela wants to learn about stage make-up, and Burgoyne welcomes the visitors into her dressing room. William Black begins his novel among costumes, refreshments and the everyday bustle behind a successful London comedy-opera. Rockminster's quiet manner and devotion to his sisters add a gently humorous view of fashionable society.

Beyond this theatrical setting, a later passage follows Lionel's uneasy thoughts on a southbound train. He recalls companionship with Honnor Cunyngham beside the Aivron and wonders how their friendship would change if she married. Fishing outings and remembered conversations give his feelings a precise setting. Readers interested in British social fiction will find a story that places professional performance alongside private affection, with close attention to small gestures and uncertain hopes.