late
Lord Montbarry's eldest sister. The solicitors employed by her husband
are also the solicitors to one of the two insurance offices. There may
possibly be something in the report of the commission of inquiry
touching on Ferrari's disappearance. Ordinary persons would not be
permitted, of course, to see such a document. But a sister of the late
lord is so near a relative as to be an exception to general rules. If
Sir Theodore Barville puts it on that footing, the lawyers, even if
they do not allow his wife to look at the report, will at least answer
any discreet questions she may ask referring to it. Let me hear what
you think of this suggestion, at your earliest convenience.'

The reply was received by return of post. Agnes declined to avail
herself of Mr. Troy's proposal.

'My interference, innocent as it was,' she wrote, 'has already been
productive of such deplorable results, that I cannot and dare not stir
any further in the case of Ferrari. If I had not consented to let that
unfortunate man refer to me by name, the late Lord Montbarry would
never have engaged him, and his wife would have been spared the misery
and suspense from which she is suffering now. I would not even look at
the report to which you allude if it was placed in my hands--I have
heard more than enough already of that hideous life in the palace at
Venice. If Mrs. Ferrari chooses to address herself to Lady Barville
(with your assistance), that is of course quite another thing. But,
even in this case, I must make it a positive condition that my name
shall not be mentioned. Forgive me, dear Mr. Troy! I am very unhappy,
and very unreasonable--but I am only a woman, and you must not expect
too much from me.'

Foiled in this direction, the lawyer next advised making the attempt to
discover the present address of Lady Montbarry's English maid. This
excellent suggestion had one drawback: it could only be carried out by
spending money--and there was no money to spend. Mrs. Ferrari shrank
from the bare idea of making any use of the thousand-pound note. It
had been deposited in the safe keeping of a bank. If it was even
mentioned in her hearing, she shuddered and referred to it, with
melodramatic fervour, as 'my husband's blood-money!'

So, under stress of circumstances, the attempt to solve the mystery of
Ferrari's disappearance was suspended for a while.

It was the last month of the year 1860. The commission of inquiry was
already at work; ha