Lord and Lady Hallendale had been in town for more than two months by the time Mr. Darcy arrived in London. Darcy tarried at his London house only long enough to change his cloathes, and then quitted it immediately in search of Mr. Gardiner, after calling at the Hallendale residence with his condolences, and those of his wife and sister. He found his uncle weary and despondent. Lady Hallendale was suffering under the same great strain of the double blow of death and scandal, but, as she was the more habitually useful, she had the dubious blessing of the details of the inquest as well as the daily matters of the estate to distract her from such painful scenes. Lord Hallendale was so thoroughly undone as to be incapable of any action; in Darcy’s absence, it had remained, then, for Lady Hallendale and Mr. Gardiner to direct the discovery of any details of the murder, answer the questions of the inquest, and attempt the salvage of whatever was possible of respectability of the Viscount’s memory, which was little, indeed.

Stopping but briefly to see his uncle and aunt, Darcy imparted whatever words were possible in the present circumstance of such affliction that might offer even momentary relief. Upon Lady Hallendale’s enquiry, Darcy assured them that his wife and sister were being well looked-after, and communicated to them briefly that which had passed between Georgiana and the Comte, merely to be saying anything at such a time that might yield a diversion from the main course of their unhappy thoughts. He spoke much of the Comte’s good character, and hinted that he was not entirely unhopeful that, as Georgiana and Elizabeth were going to be in the Comte’s company for a number of days, Georgiana might yet have a change of heart.

He was preparing to leave the Hallendales to meet Mr. Gardiner, when of a sudden, Lady Hallendale announced that she would accompany him—she had not spoken with Mr. Gardiner for several days and wished to hear what he knew of recent information. Mr. Darcy assured her that he would obtain the details of what had been discovered in his own absence, and return to them on his way home. Lady Hallendale was adamant she would go with him, and, asking the house-keeper to look in on His Lordship whilst she was gone away for a short time, took up her hat, and allowed Darcy to hand her into the chaise.

Mr. Darcy and his aunt met Mr. Gardiner in his office. After greeting his guests and seeing to their seats, he asked his clerk to bring in refreshments. He looked tired and care-worn. Lady Hallendale begged him to start at the beginning, so that Darcy was correctly and completely informed on the details of what was known.