“I can with safety put my hand on my heart and say it has been my study to please and make you happy, and I still flatter myself we shall meet before very long.  I feel most sensibly all your kindnesses to my dear son, and I hope he will add much to our comfort.  Our good father has been in good spirits ever since we heard from you; indeed, my spirits were quite worn out, the time had been so long.  I thank God for the preservation of my dear husband, and your recent success off Malta.  The taking of the Genereux seems to give great spirits to all.  God bless you, my dear husband, and grant us a happy meeting, and believe me,” etc.[14]

From the difficulties attendant upon the mails in those days, this letter would not be likely to reach Nelson till towards the end of May, when he was on the point of leaving Palermo finally; and, having regard to the uncertainties of his movements before quitting Leghorn, it is not improbable that it was among the last, if not the very last, he received before landing in England.  If so, it represented fairly the attitude of Lady Nelson, as far as known to him,—­free from reproach, affectionate, yet evidently saddened by a silence on his part, which tended to corroborate the rumors rife, not only in society but in the press.  It is possible that, like many men, though it would not be in the least characteristic of himself, he, during his journey home, simply put aside all consideration of the evil day when the two women would be in the same city, and trusted to the chapter of accidents to settle the terms on which they might live; but, from his actions, he seems to have entertained the idea that he could still maintain in London, with the cheerful acquiescence of his wife, the public relations towards Lady Hamilton which were tolerated by the easy tone of Neapolitan society.  Miss Knight relates that, while at Leghorn, he said he hoped Lady Nelson and himself would be much with Sir William and Lady Hamilton, that they all would dine together very often, and that when the latter went to their musical parties, he and Lady Nelson would go to bed.  In accordance with this programme, he took his two friends to dine with his wife and father, immediately upon his arrival in town.  Miss Knight went to another hotel with Lady Hamilton’s mother, and was that evening visited by Troubridge.  He advised her to go and stop with a friend; and, although no reason is given, it is probable that he, who knew as much as any one of the past, saw that the position of residence with the Hamiltons would be socially untenable for a woman.  Miss Knight accordingly went to live with Mrs. Nepean, the wife of the Secretary to the Admiralty.