Page "Vanity Fair (novel)" Paragraph 10

At the summit of her success, Becky's pecuniary relationship with the rich and powerful Marquis of Steyne is discovered after Rawdon is arrested for debt.

Rawdon's brother's wife, Lady Jane, bails him out and Rawdon surprises Becky and Steyne in a compromising moment.

Rawdon leaves his wife and through the offices of the Marquis of Steyne is made Governor of Coventry Island to get him out of the way, but Rawdon challenges the elderly marquis to a duel.

Becky, having lost both husband and credibility, is warned by Steyne to leave the United Kingdom and she wanders the continent.

Rawdon and Becky's son is left in the care of Pitt Crawley and Lady Jane.

However, wherever Becky goes, she is followed by the shadow of the Marquis of Steyne.

No sooner does she establish herself in polite society than someone turns up who knows her disreputable history and spreads rumours ; Steyne himself hounds her out of Rome.