If Marian had indeed started for America, what new difficulties must needs attend every effort to bring her back; since it was clear that her father's interests were involved in keeping her under his influence, and separating her entirely from her husband.

The journey to New York was no doubt intended to secure this state of things.

In America, in that vast country, with which this man was familiar with long residence, how easy for him to hide her for ever from her friends! how vain would all inquiries, all researches be likely to prove! At the ultimate moment, in the hour of hope and rejoicing, he was lost to them irrevocably.
"Yet criminals have been traced upon the other side of the Atlantic, where the police have been prompt to follow them," Gilbert said to himself, glancing for an instant at the more hopeful side of the question; "but not often where they've got anything like a start.

Did John Saltram really mean to follow those two to Liverpool, I wonder?
Such a journey would seem like madness, in his state; and yet what a triumph if he should have been in time to prevent their starting by the _Oronoco_!" And then, after a pause, he asked himself, "What could he want with Mrs.Branston, at a time when every moment was precious?
Money, perhaps.

He could have had none with him.