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.

A few days later there was again a dinner at the house taken by the
Hamiltons in Grosvenor Square. The Nelsons were there, as was Miss
Knight. The next day several of the party attended the theatre, and
Lady Nelson, it is said, fainted in the box, overcome by feeling, many
thought, at her husband's marked attentions to Lady Hamilton. The
latter being in her way a character as well known as Nelson himself,
the affair necessarily became more than usually a matter of comment,
especially as the scene now provided for London gossipers was a
re-presentation of that so lo