# George Talboys — Lady Audley’s Secret character guide > George Talboys in Lady Audley’s Secret by M. E. Braddon. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Mr. Talboys, Talboys, Mr. George Talboys, poor George **First appearance:** 0001-ii-on-board-the-argus ## Snapshot A returned Australian emigrant whose long-awaited reunion with his wife ends in a disappearance that haunts everyone who loved him. ## Who they are George Talboys sails home from the goldfields of Australia with a fortune and a single hope: to find the wife he left behind. His joy collapses into grief when he learns she is dead, and he drifts to Audley Court as Robert's guest, hollow-eyed and aimless on the riverbank. His unexplained vanishing is the engine of the novel, and his sister Clara's sorrow gives Robert a vow he cannot break. ## Relationships ### [Robert Audley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lady_audley_s_secret_se/characters/robert_audley) _friendship_ Robert is George's closest friend, deeply loyal and determined to uncover the truth about George's disappearance. ### [Lady Audley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lady_audley_s_secret_se/characters/lady_audley) _family_ George was Lady Audley's first husband, whom she abandoned and later attempted to murder to secure her new life. ### [Georgey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lady_audley_s_secret_se/characters/georgey) _family_ Georgey is George's young son, whom George deeply loves and seeks to reunite with after his wife's abandonment. ### [Helen Talboys](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lady_audley_s_secret_se/characters/helen_talboys) _romantic_ George was deeply in love with Helen, but she abandoned him and their child, leading to his heartbreak and quest. ### [Robert Audley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lady_audley_s_secret_se/characters/robert_audley) _friendship_ Robert is George's closest friend, deeply loyal and determined to uncover the truth about George's disappearance. ### [Lady Audley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lady_audley_s_secret_se/characters/lady_audley) _family_ George was Lady Audley's first husband, whom she abandoned and later attempted to murder to secure her new life. ### [Robert Audley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lady_audley_s_secret_se/characters/robert_audley) _friendship_ Robert is George's closest friend, deeply loyal and determined to uncover the truth about George's disappearance. ### [Helen Talboys](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lady_audley_s_secret_se/characters/helen_talboys) _romantic_ George was deeply in love with Helen, but she abandoned him and their child, leading to his heartbreak and quest. ### [Georgey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lady_audley_s_secret_se/characters/georgey) _family_ Georgey is George's young son, whom George deeply loves and seeks to reunite with after his wife's abandonment. ### [Lady Audley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lady_audley_s_secret_se/characters/lady_audley) _family_ George was Lady Audley's first husband, whom she abandoned and later attempted to murder to secure her new life. ### [Georgey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lady_audley_s_secret_se/characters/georgey) _family_ Georgey is George's young son, whom George deeply loves and seeks to reunite with after his wife's abandonment. ### [Helen Talboys](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lady_audley_s_secret_se/characters/helen_talboys) _romantic_ George was deeply in love with Helen, but she abandoned him and their child, leading to his heartbreak and quest. ## In the story ### [II: On Board the Argus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lady_audley_s_secret_se/chapters/ii-on-board-the-argus) The protagonist of the chapter, a young man returning to England after making his fortune in the Australian gold diggings. He is anxious about his wife's welfare. ### [In the First Page of the Times](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lady_audley_s_secret_se/chapters/iv-in-the-first-page-of-the-times) Returns to England from Australia, excited to see his wife, but learns of her death from a newspaper. ### [V: The Headstone at Ventnor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lady_audley_s_secret_se/chapters/v-the-headstone-at-ventnor) Devastated by the news of his wife's death; collapses, travels to Ventnor, and orders a headstone. ### [VI: Anywhere, Anywhere Out of the World](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lady_audley_s_secret_se/chapters/vi-anywhere-anywhere-out-of-the-world) Grief-stricken after his wife's death, he plans to return to Australia and entrusts his son's guardianship to Robert Audley. ### [After a Year](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lady_audley_s_secret_se/chapters/vii-after-a-year) Submissive and resigned after his wife's death; agrees to accompany Robert; finds some enjoyment in the rustic scenery. ### [VIII: Before the Storm](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lady_audley_s_secret_se/chapters/viii-before-the-storm) Gloomy and preoccupied, he speaks of his son mournfully and expresses a foreboding sense of doom; he passively follows Robert into the secret passage. ### [IX: After the Storm](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lady_audley_s_secret_se/chapters/ix-after-the-storm) Becomes extremely agitated during the storm, pacing in the rain and snapping at Robert. The next morning, he apologizes and suggests a day of fishing. ### [X: Missing](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lady_audley_s_secret_se/chapters/x-missing) Missing since visiting Audley Court at two o'clock; believed to have taken a train to London. ### [XI: The Mark Upon My Lady’s Wrist](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lady_audley_s_secret_se/chapters/xi-the-mark-upon-my-lady-s-wrist) Referenced as having returned to London, causing Robert's unease; his grief over his wife's death is discussed. ### [XII: Still Missing](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lady_audley_s_secret_se/chapters/xii-still-missing) George is reported to have visited his son briefly before departing for Liverpool to sail to Australia, but his actions remain mysterious and out of character. ### [Troubled Dreams](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lady_audley_s_secret_se/chapters/xiii-troubled-dreams) Remains missing; Robert hopes for a letter or message from him but receives none. ### [XVIII: Robert Receives a Visitor Whom He Had Scarcely Expected](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lady_audley_s_secret_se/chapters/xviii-robert-receives-a-visitor-whom-he-had-scarcely-expected) Central to the conversation; Robert discusses his disappearance and plans to examine his letters. ### [XIX: The Writing in the Book](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lady_audley_s_secret_se/chapters/xix-the-writing-in-the-book) Referenced through the inscription in the book and Robert's examination of his trunk. ### [Mrs. Plowson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lady_audley_s_secret_se/chapters/xx-mrs-plowson) Mentioned as the missing man whose fate Robert is investigating; his son Georgey grows more like him each day. ### [Clara](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lady_audley_s_secret_se/chapters/xxiii-clara) Referenced as the missing brother whose fate Clara and Robert seek to uncover. ### [George's Letters](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lady_audley_s_secret_se/chapters/xxiv-george-s-letters) George's letters are read by Robert; one describes his wife in detail, the other tells of his plan to go to the new world. ### [XXVII: Beginning at the Other End](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lady_audley_s_secret_se/chapters/xxvii-beginning-at-the-other-end) His brief married life is referenced; Robert recalls George's silence about his past. ### [XXIX: In the Lime-Walk](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lady_audley_s_secret_se/chapters/xxix-in-the-lime-walk) Referenced as the missing friend whose disappearance Robert is investigating; his story is recounted. ### [XXXIV: My Lady Tells the Truth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lady_audley_s_secret_se/chapters/xxxiv-my-lady-tells-the-truth) Referenced as the victim of Lady Audley's murder. ### [XXXVI: Dr. Mosgrave’s Advice](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lady_audley_s_secret_se/chapters/xxxvi-dr-mosgrave-s-advice) Mentioned as the missing first husband; Robert suspects he is dead, but Dr. Mosgrave notes the lack of evidence. ### [Buried Alive](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lady_audley_s_secret_se/chapters/xxxvii-buried-alive) Revealed to have been murdered by Lady Audley; his body lies at the bottom of a well. ### [Ghost-Haunted](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lady_audley_s_secret_se/chapters/xxxviii-ghost-haunted) George's ghostly presence haunts Robert throughout the chapter; Robert now knows his friend was murdered and lies in the old well at Audley Court. ### [XXXIX: That Which the Dying Man Had to Tell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lady_audley_s_secret_se/chapters/xxxix-that-which-the-dying-man-had-to-tell) Revealed to have survived the attack; he wrote two farewell letters with his left hand due to a broken arm and left England forever. ### [XL: Restored](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lady_audley_s_secret_se/chapters/xl-restored) Revealed to have survived the fall into the well, escaped to New York, and now returns to England. ### [At Peace](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lady_audley_s_secret_se/chapters/xli-at-peace) Living with his sister and Robert, happy and recovering from the past; his son Georgey visits often. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lady_audley_s_secret_se/characters/george_talboys - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lady_audley_s_secret_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lady_audley_s_secret_se/characters