But the duty of breaking the news was made doubly painful by the circumstance that the catastrophe which had befallen Mrs.Downe was solely the result of her own and her husband's loving-kindness towards himself.
He found Downe in his office.

When the solicitor comprehended the intelligence he turned pale, stood up, and remained for a moment perfectly still, as if bereft of his faculties; then his shoulders heaved, he pulled out his handkerchief and began to cry like a child.

His sobs might have been heard in the next room.

He seemed to have no idea of going to the shore, or of doing anything; but when Barnet took him gently by the hand and proposed to start at once, he quietly acquiesced, neither uttering any further word nor making any effort to repress his tears.
Barnet accompanied him to the shore, where, finding that no trace had as yet been seen of Mrs.Downe, and that his stay would be of no avail, he left Downe with his friends and the young doctor, and once more hastened back to his own house.
At the door he met Charlson.

'Well!' Barnet said.
'I have just come down,' said the doctor; 'we have done everything, but without result.