The novella is set in London, in the nineteenth century. Lord Arthur Savile, the protagonist, is a young man belonging to the English nobility, engaged with Sybil Merton, whom he is going to marry. During a reception at Lady Windermere's, Mr. Podgers, a cheiromantist, begins to tell the attending’s hands, gaining their confidence. Lord Arthur's hand is also told, but the cheiromantist refuses to tell in public what he has discovered. Soon after, privately, he tells Lord Arthur his destiny, which is that he will murder somebody / become a murderer. Lord Arthur is completely upset. He leaves the reception and wanders in London for all night. He comes back home early in the morning. He sleeps a bit, and then he decides that he must fulfill