Rough Justice (1898) is Braddon's explicit tribute to the modern detective novel, where the influence of Dickens's Inspector Bucket, of Collins's Sergeant Cuff and, above all, of Baker Street's private detective Holmes emerges in the creation of the ‘inevitable detective’ (in the definition coined by the Spectator) John Faunce, the chief inspector of the London Bow Street Division. Set in the late eighties, Rough Justice opens with our introduction to Arnold Wentworth, who left England to find his fortune in the African diamond mines and who has just returned. After a casual meeting with Mary Freeman (a childhood friend) on a steamer, Arnold is accused of the brutal murder of his former wife Lisa Rayner, whom he abandoned to earn his fortune abroad. These charges are based upon the fact that a handkerchief with the initials ‘A. W.’ and some African banknotes, which seem to confirm Arnold's responsibility, were found on the crime scene. Due to these coincidences police detective John Faunce is sure of Arnold's guilt, although the man is finally released for lack of firm proof. The most important thing for Arnold is to demonstrate his innocence to Mary Freeman, whom he loves. For this reason he privately employs Faunce (who has retired from the police department to devote himself to gardening at his home – Hawthorn Lodge, Putney Hill) to discover the identity of the real murderer.