By this time the picture galleries, the churches, and the palaces in Florence had nearly all been visited.  Poor Lady Rowley had dragged herself wearily from sight to sight, hoping always to meet with Mr Glascock, ignorant of the fact that residents in a town do not pass their mornings habitually in looking after pictures.  During this time inquiries were being made, through the police, respecting Trevelyan; and Sir Marmaduke had obtained information that an English gentleman, with a little boy, had gone on to Siena, and had located himself there.  There seemed to be but little doubt that this was Trevelyan, though nothing had been learned with certainty as to the gentleman’s name.  It had been decided that Sir Marmaduke, with his courier and Mrs Trevelyan, should go on to Siena, and endeavour to come upon the fugitive, and they had taken their departure on a certain morning.  On that same day Lady Rowley was walking with Nora and one of the other girls through the hall of the hotel, when they were met in full face by Mr Glascock!  Lady Rowley and Lucy were in front, and they, of course, did not know the man.  Nora had seen him at once, and in her confusion hardly knew how to bear herself.  Mr Glascock was passing by her without recognising her had passed her mother and sister, and had so far gone on, that Nora had determined to make no sign, when he chanced to look up and see who it was that was so close to him.  ‘Miss Rowley,’ he said, ‘who thought of meeting you in Florence!’ Lady Rowley, of course, turned round, and there was an introduction.  Poor Nora, though she knew nothing of her mother’s schemes, was confused and ill at ease.  Mr Glascock was very civil, but at the same time rather cold.  Lady Rowley was all smiles and courtesy.  She had, she said, heard his name from her daughters, and was very happy to make his acquaintance.  Lucy looked on somewhat astonished to find that the lover whom her sister had been blamed for rejecting, and who was spoken of with so many encomiums, was so old a man.  Mr Glascock asked after Mrs Trevelyan; and Lady Rowley, in a low, melancholy whisper, told him that they were now all in Florence, in the hope of meeting Mr Trevelyan.  ’You have heard the sad story, I know, Mr Glascock, and therefore I do not mind telling you.’  Mr Glascock acknowledged that he did know the story, and informed her that he had seen Mr Trevelyan in Florence within the last ten days.  This was so interesting, that, at Lady Rowley’s request, he went with them up to their rooms, and in this way the acquaintance was made.  It turned out that Mr Glascock had spoken to Mr Trevelyan, and that Trevelyan had told him that he meant for the present to take up his residence in some small Italian town.  ‘And how was he looking, Mr Glascock?’

‘Very ill, Lady Rowley, very ill, indeed.’