While in George Talboys’ library, Robert Audley comes across an inventory that would suggest that Talboys misses his lavished life, previous to the unfortunate event of his father cutting him off financially as a result of his decision to marry Lady Audley, or back then, Helen Maldon.
In Talboys’ trunk, Robert comes across many articles that seem to be worn by time, outdated, but valuable. The fact that these belongings are still in existence and in the possession of Mr. Talboys’ would imply that he misses his lavish lifestyle, and therefore holds on to these materialistic mementos to remind him of what it was like. For instance, the meerschaum pipes that Audley finds is for the time a rather old-fashioned pipe, while also being made of the expensive mineral meerschaum, suggest that Talboys was of high class. The gloves from a parisian maker imply the same thing as the pipe, high class. The play bills with the names of actors who are no longer living suggest illustrate the time large difference between when Talboys was living the life that the articles imply he did, and the current time in the novel. In addition, he finds a particular set of literature that he sets to the side after putting everything back in the trunk.
Within this collection is an “Old Greek Testament,” an “Eton Latin Grammar Book,” “Tom Jones” and Byron’s “Don Juan.” “Tom Jones” and “Don Juan” share commonalities in terms of the love interests included in both stories. In addition, Byron’s epic “Don Juan” is a satirical poem, which would suggest that Talboys enjoys comical reading. To support this claim, “Tom Jones” is also a comic novel. However, the variety of Talboys’ reading collection would suggest that he is a very well rounded, cultured reader, as there are other, older books such as the “Eton Latin Grammar Book” and an “Old Greek Testament,” as well as a pamphlet on sword-exercise. Because of the variety of books, it is implied that George Talboys is a rather refined, knowledgeable reader reader.