His beloved wife Mary having died during pregnancy, Phineas Finn finds Irish society and his modest government position in Ireland dull and unsatisfying after the excitement of his former career as a Member of Parliament.

As Finn had been considered the most promising of the younger set, he is encouraged to stand for Parliament again, and he takes the risk of giving up his salaried position.

He and Bonteen had been seen to quarrel publicly on the night of the murder and the circumstantial evidence points to him, while Emilius did not have a key to exit his lodgings with.

Afterwards, Finn, worn out by the ordeal and disillusioned with politics, refuses an invitation to take office in the government, and marries Madame Max.

[2] Trollope, who had earlier worked in Ireland for the General Post Office, also wrote a number of novels set there.