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Ireland。 'Come and keep me company while my husband is away。 My
three little girls will make you their playfellow； and the only stranger you
will meet is the governess； whom I answer for your liking beforehand。
Pack up your things； and I will call for you to…morrow on my way to the
train。' In those hearty terms the invitation was given。 Agnes thankfully
accepted it。 For three happy months she lived under the roof of her
friend。 The girls hung round her in tears at her departure； the youngest of
them wanted to go back with Agnes to London。 Half in jest； half in earnest；
she said to her old friend at parting； 'If your governess leaves you； keep
the place open for me。' Mrs。 Westwick laughed。 The wiser children took
it seriously； and promised to let Agnes know。
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。
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'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 warningand 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 Squarefrom 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
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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。'
After one or two more questions （quite readily answered） relating to
the date and the time of day at which Ferrari had left the palace； the
courier took his leave。
He at once entered on the necessary investigationswithout the
slightest result so far as Ferrari was concerned。 Nobody had seen him。
Nobody appeared to have been taken into his confidence。 Nobody knew
anything （that is to say； anything of the slightest importance） even about
persons so distinguished as Lord and Lady Montbarry。 It was reported that
her ladyship's English maid had left her； before the disappearance of
Ferrari； to return to her relatives in her own country； and that Lady
Montbarry had taken no steps to supply her place。 His lordship was
described as being in delicate health。 He lived in the strictest retirement
nobody was admitted to him； not even his own countrymen。 A stupid old
woman was discovered who did the housework at the palace； arriving in
the morning and going away again at night。 She had never seen the lost
courier she had never even seen Lord Montbarry； who was then confined
to his room。 Her ladyship； 'a most gracious and adorable mistress；' was
in constant attendance on her noble husband。 There was no other servant
then in the house （so far as the old woman knew） but herself。 The meals
were sent in from a restaurant。 My lord； it was said； disliked strangers。
My lord's brother…in…law； the Baron； was generally shut up in a remote part
of the palace； occupied （the gracious mistress said） with experiments in
chemistry。 The experiments sometimes made a nasty smell。 A doctor had
latterly been called in to his lordshipan Italian doctor； long resident in
Venice。 Inquiries being addressed to this gentleman （a physician of
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undoubted capacity and respectability）； it turned out that he also had never
seen