He would go out of England, and would travel,--if only he could so dispose of his wife that she might be safe from any possible communication with Colonel Osborne.
If that could be effected, nothing that money could do should be spared for her.

If that could not be effected he would remain at home,--and crush her.
That night before he went to bed he wrote a letter to his wife, which was as follows;-- DEAR EMILY, I have learned, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that you have corresponded with Colonel Osborne since you have been at Nuncombe Putney, and also that you have seen him there.
This has been done in direct opposition to my expressed wishes, and I feel myself compelled to tell you that such conduct is disgraceful to you, and disgracing to me.

I am quite at a loss to understand how you can reconcile to yourself so flagrant a disobedience of my instructions, and so perverse a disregard to the opinion of the world at large.
But I do not write now for the sake of finding fault with you.

It is too late for me to have any hope that I can do so with good effect, either as regards your credit or my happiness.

Nevertheless, it is my duty to protect both you and myself from further shame; and I wish to tell you what are my intentions with that view.