“Peveril of the Peak” is an elaborately constructed tale dealing with a pretended Popish plot against Charles II of England, but introducing a great variety of figures and interests, only a few of which can be given in a brief outline.
Sir Geoffrey Peveril, currently known as “Peveril of the Peak,”—the popular title of all his ancestors from the time of William the Conqueror their natural father, because of their mountain castle in Derbyshire,—is an old friend of Major Bridgenorth, a neighbor. Peveril is a Royalist and Bridgenorth a Puritan, but their personal friendship is undisturbed during the troubled days of Civil War; and in fact the Major is able to render his friend great service at this time. It is requited when the Major's wife dies, leaving an infant daughter, Alice, whom Lady Peveril rears like her own; the little girl being the childhood's comrade of Julian Peveril, only heir of the Peak estates.
When Alice is in her third year the two families become estranged, in this wise. The Countess of Derby, feudal sovereign of the Isle of Man, having suffered imprisonment at the hands of the Roundheads, causes one of their leaders, William Christian, to be executed …
