Anthony Frederick Holstein

Anthony Frederick Holstein. The Assassin of St. Glenroy; or, The Axis of Life. A Novel

London:  Minerva Press for A. K. Newman and Co., 1810.

 

Synopsis of The Assassin of St. Glenroy

The novel begins with Lady Augusta Cameron walking through the woods after having spent the night with her friend and mentor Mrs. Harrington. As Augusta continues through the thick landscape of the woods she comes across the cottage of a young man who is identified as her lover. When Augusta approaches the cottage she sees the man, known as Percy Lennox, coming from door covered in blood and carrying a dagger. Augusta and Percy enter the cottage and Augusta is shocked to see the body of a man lying on the floor. Augusta pleads with Percy to tell her the truth. His silence, in her mind, is an indication of his guilt. Percy then confesses to Augusta that he is the one who killed the man and that he will turn himself in to be punished. However, he then realizes that Augusta is the only who knows of the crime and if she does not turn him in he will walk free. Augusta vows to remain silent.

A few days later Augusta's father finds the body in the cottage and learns that Percy is the owner. He interviews many people who tell him that Percy is a good man incapable of committing such a heinous crime. Despite such a great reputation, Percy is still considered a suspect and a search is conducted to find him. After a few months the victim had been buried and the search for Percy had been abandoned. So, after a death in the family the Cameron's moved to London where Augusta's father became the Earl of Rosven.

While in London Augusta and her older sister Orina meet a friend of their deceased mother, the Countess of Monteith. The Countess prefers Augusta's company and eventually desires to have her nephew, Lord Monteith, marry Augusta. However, while in London Augusta sees Percy again. Although Augusta is visibly shaken by each of the sightings, she manages to ward off questions about her behavior. Augusta remains true to her word and does not tell Percy's secret, but she gets more upset every time she sees Percy with another woman and is confused by his kind nature and good deeds.

Orina, Augusta's older sister, also has several run-ins with Percy. But even Orina is unaware of the relationship between Augusta and Percy. Orina's inquisitive nature and sheer luck allow her to learn the name of the man that people are calling the "Adonis" and the woman he is seen with who is known as the "Mincing-Lane Belle."

Soon after, Orina informs Augusta that Lord Monteith is in negotiations with their father to marry Augusta. Augusta accepts an offer to visit the Monteith Cottage with the Countess and Lord Monteith. Lady Monteith is aware of Augusta's behavioral changes whenever Percy is around and vows to find out the secret causing the odd behavior. But Lay Monteith still feels that a marriage between Augusta and Lord Monteith would be a great match.

Upon returning from the trip to the Monteith Cottage, Augusta greets Orina in the drawing room of the castle and is shocked to see Percy as Orina's drawing-master. Percy is equally shocked to see Augusta and makes a quick exit when no one is paying attention.

A few days later Percy returns to the castle and resumes his duties as Orina's drawing-master. Augusta does her best to ignore Percy. A commotion occurs outside and a young boy is caught on a wild horse. Percy runs out the save the boy and does so, but manages to break his arm in the process. Lord Rosven forces Percy to stay at the castle for a few days.

Percy escapes the castle after a few days and when they go looking for him they hear of Percy's tyrant behavior toward Mira, the "Mincing-Lane Belle," who now lives with him. During one of Orina's travels, she encounters a jeweler who tells her of Percy's plot to steal from him. Orina trades the man for a portrait of Percy, which she takes back to Augusta.

Lord Monteith offers to marry Augusta during this time and she accepts the offer. Three days before the wedding Augusta receives a letter from Mrs. Harrington about Percy's murder trial in St. Glenroy. Percy is acquitted because he had an alibi. The same evening Augusta receives another letter delivered by Montgomery, the son of Augusta's acquaintance Lady Linster, from Percy. Percy vows his love for Augusta and says goodbye. Augusta replies that his secret is safe and that she still intends to marry Lord Monteith.

The night of the wedding, Augusta sees her new husband sign a letter to be sent to a Mr. St. Clair. She is startled and falls ill for a few minutes because she does not want her husband to learn of her relationship with Percy. The Lord's Aunt then pays Augusta a visit. The Aunt reveals to Augusta that Augusta's relationship with Percy is no longer a secret. Lord Monteith's Aunt also reveals the true reason for Augusta's marriage. August learns that she is part of a plot by the Aunt to help control Lord Monteith because he is not intelligent enough to be in the position he is in. Augusta is upset by this knowledge and feels she married Lord Monteith under false pretenses. Augusta and Sir Felix Guildford become friends and Augusta on occasion wishes she had married a Guildford because the conversation is much more intellectual and would help her forget Percy. Lord Monteith then learns he must make a trip to Scotland and Augusta decides she does not want to go with him and would like to stay with her friend Mrs. Linster. After much disagreement with the Countess, Augusta is allowed to stay with the Linsters.

Sir Felix then starts to feel emotion toward Augusta after he had sworn off marriage because his last wife had an affair. Lord Monteith's Aunt also tries to make amends with Augusta while she stays with the Linsters. While at the Linsters, Augusta hears a tale about Percy and how he became heir to Mr. Eustace. Percy arrived that evening and at the same time both he and Lady Linster became ill. When Montgomery arrives at the castle Lady Linster asks him to get rid of his friend Percy. He does and within 24 hours Lady Linster is no longer ill.

Percy asks to stay at Sutton Park where he meets Constantia Melbourne. Through discussion Percy finds out that Constantia once knew his friend Mrs. Harrington. Mrs. Harrington becomes a link between the two and Percy and Constantia grow closer. Augusta who has been visiting Sutton Park with friends sees Constantia and Percy together and becomes jealous. Augusta's friend Guildford tells Augusta of the negotiations for a marriage between Percy and Constantia. Although Guildford is telling the truth about what he heard there is no truth to the marriage talk. During this time, Augusta receives word of her sister's marriage and is both sad and happy she will not be able to attend the wedding.

Montgomery decides to visit Percy and Sutton Park and tell Percy of his engagement to Miss Obrien who had been staying with the Linsters for quite some time. Percy thought Montgomery would be happy, but Montgomery reveals that he is now in love with Miss Canvan, the woman his father originally wanted him to marry.

Shortly thereafter Percy receives a letter from Constantia telling him of her desire to marry him for his money. About the same time Guildford tells Augusta his intentions of seducing her and although she is upset she remains friends with him.

That evening Lord Monteith returns from Scotland to pick up Augusta and his Aunt. It is clear to Augusta that he is drunk and in no condition to drive the carriage, but he ignores her pleas to stay one more night. The three set off on a ten-mile trip and during this trip the horses are frightened by a machine on the road with bells. Lord Monteith is unable to control the horses and is thrown from the carriage. He is taken to a bed where two doctors watch over him. Augusta stays by his side the entire time. Eight days after the ordeal Augusta learns from Lord Monteith that he had an affair with Mira, the "Mincing-Lane Belle" who is not Percy's mistress as previously believed but is in fact Percy's sister. Lord Monteith then succumbs to his injuries and dies.

In Claremont, Lady Linster falls ill again while talking with Montgomery. Montgomery rushes Lay Linster to her bed when there is a knock on the door and a servant has a letter for Lady Linster. Montgomery is told to read the letter out loud. The letter reveals that Percy is Lady Linster's son. Percy and Lord Linster come rushing in the room as Lady Linster dies.

It is revealed that Miss Obrien, Montgomery's future wife, knew of Lady Linster's background and blackmailed her to get to Montgomery. Percy and the reader then both learn of his mysterious background and what truly happened at the cottage in St. Glenroy. Percy's father, Baron Solgatz took Percy to Scotland where he met Augusta. The Baron retuned to the cottage to pick up his son. Percy was not there, but when Percy arrived he heard a struggle between his father and someone else. Percy ran to the aid of his father and found his father covered in blood holding a dagger. The Baron begged Percy not to turn him in and Percy let him go. Percy then took the dagger and the next morning Augusta found him.

Orina also reveals that she knew of the relationship between Lord Monteith and Mira and only told Augusta after Augusta already knew. Augusta views Percy in a much more positive light now. Percy returns to St. Glenroy where he continues his friendship with Mrs. Harrington. Augusta's father dies and Augusta goes to live with her sister. Orina then has a child.

It has been twelve months since Lord Monteith died and Augusta has fulfilled her obligations as the grieving widow. Augusta and Percy then feel more comfortable around one another and begin talking to each other. At the same time each of the in confiding in Mrs. Harrington their love for one another. Percy and Augusta continue to grow closer and eventually are engaged. However, Percy still feels wary about Guildford. Montgomery sends a Percy a letter causing Percy to become even more jealous of Guildford.

Percy comes across a boy with a letter addressed to Augusta from Guildford. The letter is shredded, but Percy manages to make out a few of the sentences, which mention Guildford's love for Augusta. Percy then runs to Guildford's house where he sees Augusta and an older woman enter the house. Percy runs to the door flings it open and point a gun at Guildford. Guildford and Percy struggle and the gun goes off and Percy falls to the ground bleeding profusely. Augusta enters the room and throws herself on top of Percy who eventually dies. Augusta then moves to Cameron Castle in St. Glenroy.

Percy was not the thief of those jewels, but was set up by Dawson, a former lover of Lady Guildford. Percy threw off Dawson's plans to get money from Mr. Eustace when he became the heir. So Dawson sought revenge on Percy. Dawson was convicted of murder and punished accordingly.

The reader also learns the Miss Obrien sought revenge on Augusta because of an assumed relationship between her and Montgomery. When Montgomery learned of Obrien's behavior he rescinded his marriage offer and was free to pursue his love, Miss Canvan. Miss Obrien ended up living in poverty.

-- Prepared by Kristina Neal, University of Nebraska, April 2006.
© Kristina Neal, 2006.