Milly Theale, an American heiress, travels to Europe and becomes involved with Kate Croy and Merton Densher, two lovers who concoct a treacherous design of betrayal and destruction to lure Milly out of her inheritance and personal connections and, finally, health. To gain her trust, Kate and Merton patronize her which is easy since Milly is naive and artless. Milly, however, is aware of a great potential for life because she knows she is doomed to die. The world captivates her and before her dea