On the very day when Miss Lockwood returned to London, she was recalled to those associations with the past which she was most anxious to forget.  After the first kissings and greetings were over, the old nurse (who had been left in charge at the lodgings) had some startling information to communicate, derived from the courier’s wife.

’Here has been little Mrs. Ferrari, my dear, in a dreadful state of mind, inquiring when you would be back.  Her husband has left Lord Montbarry, without a word of warning—­and nobody knows what has become of him.’

Agnes looked at her in astonishment.  ’Are you sure of what you are saying?’ she asked.

The nurse was quite sure.  ’Why, Lord bless you! the news comes from the couriers’ office in Golden Square—­from the secretary, Miss Agnes, the secretary himself!’ Hearing this, Agnes began to feel alarmed as well as surprised.  It was still early in the evening.  She at once sent a message to Mrs. Ferrari, to say that she had returned.

In an hour more the courier’s wife appeared, in a state of agitation which it was not easy to control.  Her narrative, when she was at last able to speak connectedly, entirely confirmed the nurse’s report of it.

After hearing from her husband with tolerable regularity from Paris, Rome, and Venice, Emily had twice written to him afterwards—­ and had received no reply.  Feeling uneasy, she had gone to the office in Golden Square, to inquire if he had been heard of there.  The post of the morning had brought a letter to the secretary from a courier then at Venice.  It contained startling news of Ferrari.  His wife had been allowed to take a copy of it, which she now handed to Agnes to read.

The writer stated that he had recently arrived in Venice.  He had previously heard that Ferrari was with Lord and Lady Montbarry, at one of the old Venetian palaces which they had hired for a term.  Being a friend of Ferrari, he had gone to pay him a visit.  Ringing at the door that opened on the canal, and failing to make anyone hear him, he had gone round to a side entrance opening on one of the narrow lanes of Venice.  Here, standing at the door (as if she was waiting for him to try that way next), he found a pale woman with magnificent dark eyes, who proved to be no other than Lady Montbarry herself.

She asked, in Italian, what he wanted.  He answered that he wanted to see the courier Ferrari, if it was quite convenient.  She at once informed him that Ferrari had left the palace, without assigning any reason, and without even leaving an address at which his monthly salary (then due to him) could be paid.  Amazed at this reply, the courier inquired if any person had offended Ferrari, or quarrelled with him.  The lady answered, ’To my knowledge, certainly not.  I am Lady Montbarry; and I can positively assure you that Ferrari was treated with the greatest kindness in this house.  We are as much astonished as you are at his extraordinary disappearance.  If you should hear of him, pray let us know, so that we may at least pay him the money which is due.’