"I need scarcely say I believed her to be dead. All my efforts to find her were in vain; but it is unnecessary to go into all that. Give me her address and she shall receive immediate and liberal assistance. I will go to her at once."
Melville shook his head.
"She will not see you. She guessed what you would say, and I gave her my word of honour not to tell you where she is."
"Is that so very binding?" Sir Geoffrey asked with scorn. "If I am not to know where Lady Holt lives, why should I come to her help?"
"It is for you to decide whether you will or not," Melville replied, "but somebody must, and soon."
"I will help her at once if I do it myself," Sir Geoffrey said, "but I do not intend to allow you to be my purse-bearer. Do you suppose I can place any confidence in you after your last disgraceful performance? How am I even to know that you are speaking the truth now?"
"It is entirely your own affair," said Melville quietly. "The case is urgent. If you will not assist your wife in her extremity, I must find someone who will."
He rose to go, and Sir Geoffrey watched him narrowly.
"What are you going to do?"
"One woman may befriend another," Melville answered; "perhaps Mrs. Austen will be willing to help Lady Holt."