Little Lord Fauntleroy · Chapter
XIII explained
The American newspapers pick up the story of Lord Fauntleroy and the Earl of Dorincourt, publishing wild and contradictory accounts.
What happens
The American newspapers pick up the story of Lord Fauntleroy and the Earl of Dorincourt, publishing wild and contradictory accounts. Mr. Hobbs and Dick read the papers with growing concern and write letters of support to Cedric. Dick recognizes a picture of the claimant's mother as Minna, a woman from his past, and realizes the claim is fraudulent. They consult a young lawyer, Mr. Harrison, who writes to Mr. Havisham in England and to Ben Tipton in California to investigate.
Themes in this chapter
Justice and Deception
Dick's recognition of Minna exposes the fraudulent claim, setting the stage for justice to prevail over deception.
Friendship and Loyalty
Mr. Hobbs and Dick demonstrate unwavering loyalty to Cedric, writing letters and taking action to protect him.
Characters to notice
- Mr. Hobbs
Reads the newspaper accounts with bewilderment, writes a letter to Cedric offering a partnership in the grocery business, and joins Dick to consult a lawyer.
- Dick
Recognizes the picture of the claimant's mother as Minna, a woman from his past, and realizes the claim is fraudulent; writes to his brother Ben and consults a lawyer.
- Cedric Errol
The subject of the newspaper stories and the target of the fraudulent claim; his friends in New York rally to support him.
- Benjamin Tipton
Dick's brother, who is written to with the picture of Minna and asked to provide information about her and her child.
- Mr. Havisham
The family lawyer in England, to whom Mr. Harrison writes as part of the investigation.
Key passages
“Seems like somethin' orter be done. Things like them orter be held on to—earls or no earls.”
Mr. Hobbs feels that something should be done to protect Cedric's rights, regardless of the Earl's status.
Mr. Hobbs expresses his determination to act on Cedric's behalf.
“I knowed it was a put-up job. I knowed it; and they done it on account o' him bein' a 'Merican!”
Mr. Hobbs declares that the claim against Cedric is a conspiracy motivated by anti-American prejudice.
Mr. Hobbs voices his suspicion that the claim is fraudulent and rooted in bias.
“Why, that there boy o' hers ain't no more a lord than I am! It's Ben's boy—the little chap she hit when she let fly that plate at me.”
Dick asserts that Minna's son is not the rightful heir, but is actually Ben's child whom Minna once struck with a plate.
Dick reveals the true identity of the claimant's mother and her child, exposing the fraud.