William Wilkie Collins (1824-1889) was an English novelist and playwright, best known for The Woman in White and The Moonstone. In the Queen of Hearts, Griffith and his older brothers live a quiet life in an old country house, until an heiress, Jessie, comes to stay. When Griffith gets word that his son will return from sea to declare his love for Jessie, the brothers spin tales to keep the heiress entertained until the sailor arrives.