Lady Audley’s Secret

In the trunk, Robert finds a letter from George’s father, Mr. Harcourt Talboys. Robert had written to Harcourt right after George’s disappearance, and Harcourt wrote back that he had dismissed all responsibility for his son when George married so far beneath the family station. But now that Robert is more certain of George’s dark fate, he decides to visit Harcourt after he leaves Southampton. He resolves to only continue his investigation if Harcourt wishes him to.

On the train to Southampton, Robert feels lonely without George and thinks that he would give up his wealth and privilege if he could have George back.

Robert arrives at Southampton and is appalled by the poverty he sees around him. He sees a child’s funeral procession and thinks about how if anything happened to Georgey, he would be responsible. He finds Georgey at home with a woman of fair complexion, Mrs. Plowson. Robert notices that Mrs. Plowson seems very anxious as he chats with Georgey.  Mrs. Plowson tries to take Georgey away to wash his face.

Mrs. Plowson remains fidgety and seems to know who Robert is. Georgey babbles on about his watch given to him by the pretty lady. Robert asks about the pretty lady. Georgey says that Maldon told him not to talk about the pretty lady but he will anyway. He says that she visited when he was little, gave him the watch, cried, and then left.

Mrs. Plowson tries to hush Georgey, saying he might be annoying Robert. Georgey rambles on about Mrs. Plowson’s daughter, who was sick. Before he can continue, a drunken Maldon comes in and tells Mrs. Plowson to go wash Georgey’s face. Robert realizes that Mrs. Plowson has a stake in Maldon’s secrets. Robert remarks that the mystery is growing deeper and “a stronger hand than my own is pointing the way to my lost friend’s unknown grave.”