# Showing How George Vavasor Paid a Visit explained — Can You Forgive Her? > Chapter companion for Can You Forgive Her? by Anthony Trollope. ## What happens George Vavasor, after losing his parliamentary seat, prepares to flee London. He packs his belongings, destroys documents, and adopts the alias Gregory Vance. He then visits John Grey's lodgings, insults him, and challenges him to a duel, which Grey refuses. Vavasor later leaves for America, and the authorities decide not to pursue him. He disappears from the story. ## Themes in this chapter ### Self-Deception and Moral Growth George Vavasor's elaborate preparations and alias reveal his self-deception about escaping his past, while his confrontation with Grey shows his refusal to accept moral responsibility. ### Betrayal and Forgiveness Vavasor's attack on Grey and his subsequent flight highlight themes of betrayal, while Grey's decision not to prosecute suggests a capacity for forgiveness. ## Character check-ins ### George Vavasor After losing the election, he prepares to flee London, adopts the alias Gregory Vance, and confronts John Grey before departing for America. ### John Grey Visited by George Vavasor at his lodgings, he refuses to fight a duel and later opposes legal action against Vavasor. ### Calder Jones Meets Vavasor at the club and discusses hunting plans. ### Mrs. Bunsby Vavasor's landlady, who receives payment and later informs Kate about his departure. ### Kate Vavasor Learns of her brother's disappearance through Captain Bellfield and Mrs. Bunsby. ### Mrs. Greenow Comments on George Vavasor's mysterious disappearance, expressing relief. ## Key lines > “That’s a good line,” said he, as he read a certain prospectus. “They generally go to the bottom, and save a man from any further trouble on his own account.” Vavasor cynically remarks that the steamship line is good because the ships often sink, relieving a man of his troubles. _Reflects Vavasor's dark humor and suicidal thoughts after his political defeat._ > “I have come to declare in your own hearing—as I am in the habit of doing occasionally behind your back—that you are a blackguard—to spit in your face, and defy you.” Vavasor confronts Grey, insulting him and challenging him to a duel. _Shows Vavasor's aggressive and desperate attempt to provoke Grey._ > “Pity’s no name for it. It’s the greatest shame as ever I knew since I joined the force. A man as was a Member of Parliament only last Session—as belongs to no end of swell clubs, a gent as well known in London as any gent about the town! And I’d have had him back in three months, as sure as my name’s Walker.” A police superintendent laments that Vavasor, a former MP and well-known gentleman, has escaped justice. _Highlights the social status of Vavasor and the frustration of the authorities._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/chapters/lxxii-showing-how-george-vavasor-paid-a-visit - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/chapters