The story in one page
Nora, an opera star, disappears from her Paris flat after a mysterious gunman creates a commotion, leaving her friend Celeste and a desperate Abbott to piece together her whereabouts. Suspicion initially lands on a Barone, but the reality involves a clumsy knot of gossip and manipulated letters. As Courtlandt and the prizefighter Harrigan search for her near Lecco, Nora and Courtlandt cycle through misunderstanding, pride, and intercepted emeralds. Their separation proves entirely of their own making, a self-imposed exile fueled by Flora’s malicious interference and their own stubborn silence. They finally collide on a train, where the realization that they have been acting like fools triggers an immediate, tearful, and impulsive reunion.
Who's who
- Nora
Prima donna prone to sudden disappearances and dramatic romantic gestures.
- Edward
Patient lover currently nursing a broken heart on a train.
- Harrigan
Retired prizefighter who prefers the honest violence of the ring.
- Barone di Monte-Verdi
Italian military attaché suspected of kidnapping due to his proximity.
- Flora
Spiteful rival who orchestrates the central misunderstanding.
What it's really about
- Communication failures
- Pride prevents simple apologies, causing months of misery.
- The social game
- Caste and reputation dictate every movement of the elite.
Why it's memorable
- A desperate duke screaming for an address at a stage door.
- A prized emerald found sitting in the dirt of a vineyard.
The ending, explained
Spoilers — show the ending
Nora intercepts Edward on his train, confesses her role in the chaos, and the two decide to return exactly where they started. The train guard announces Lecco, and they begin their life together by laughing at their own absurdity.
For your book club
- Why do these people prefer grand, silent departures over simple, honest conversations?
- How does the prizefighter's perspective ground the frantic romance of the other leads?