The author was a Hungarian-British national and is best remembered for "The Scarlet Pimpernel". This book is subtitled 'An Episode in the life of Mr. Thomas Betterton as told by his friend John Honeywell.' It begins with a letter, written by Mr. Honeywell to Mistress Mary Saunderson. In this letter, he pleads the cause of his friend Thomas Betterton, who wishes to marry her. She apparently, is hesitating because certain jealous persons have been spreading rumors about him. Thomas Betterton was England's best-known actor during the Restoration period and was moreover a friend of Charles I.