Crooknose is a child of the slums. The slums his mother, dark alleys his father and his family is composed of the crook, the gambler, the demi-monde and the policeman. But despite these family connections Crooknose is organically a decent fellow.

Marius goes into the lion's pit, taking his life into his hands to save the girl who has been brutally left to die by Marius' rival.

At the death of Burke, the bulk of his fortune goes to his only son, Rory, a baby in arms. The child is in the keeping of his uncle. Sir Everett, who had a son of Rory's age. That his own son might inherit the fortune Everett causes Rory to be kidnapped.