In his dotage, Geoffrey's old uncle Sir Robert Bingham fell a victim to the wiles of an adventuress and married her.

Then he promptly died, and eight months afterwards a posthumous son was born.
To Geoffrey this meant ruin.

His allowance stopped and his expectations vanished at one fell swoop.

He pulled himself together, however, as a brave-hearted man does under such a shock, and going to his wife he explained to her that he must now work for his living, begging her to break down the barrier that was between them and give him her sympathy and help.

She met him with tears and reproaches.